Affluenza Epidemic

I first heard the clever term, ‘affluenza’ from a fantastic short film created by World Vision’s youth branch called Stir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZz6ICzpjI&feature=related ). Yesterday I read an article in the Herald about a guy who has written a book about affluenza (http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/privileged-and-a-pain-how-to-cure-affluenza-20101230-19are.html ). While the book focusses on the super-rich and how the wealth seems to become a curse to their family and future generations I think that there is a warning there for all of us in western society.

I was shocked a few weeks ago to hear another term for the first time, actually a phrase, it was, ‘diseases of affluence’. I heard it in a serious context but at first I thought it was a joke. Then I read the list of these diseases – obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of alcoholism, heart disease, asthma, allergies, cancer and mental illnesses. As you can imagine these sicknesses don't tend to occur as often in the developing world where people live on less than $2 a day.

Turns out being rich can ruin your family and make you sick. It’s enough to make you want to take a vow of poverty! Being as affluent as we are should come with a warning. As a society it doesn’t help if we buy into enjoying our excess and then have to pay more to keep our health system afloat.

The answer is as simple as what I am always telling my young children and as complex as the feelings I have when I open my wallet. We need to share. We have been blessed with more than we need. This means we are blessed to be in a position to share it with others.

St. Paul in the Bible put it this way when he encouraged the church in Corinth to help out the Macedonians who were struggling, “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.”

Sounds like a fair exchange. Share my plenty and all the risks that go with it for better health, family, society and even a better world.

Do you have any ideas for 2011 about how you can share your excess?

Simply Rich

Caitlin and Billy are part of the world of a verse novel by Australian poet Steven Herrick. He writes in a way that shares the character’s inner thoughts. The novel is called The Simple Gift and is a great read, students I teach who hate reading love this book. It’s a story that shows that generosity changes everything and anyone.

Caitlin is a girl in a posh senior high school, her world has been somewhat challenged after meeting a boy who is homeless yet happy.
“… I’m not a spoilt brat OK,
but I am spoilt,
spoilt to boredom,
and I’m smart enough
to realise that none of this
means anything
except my parents are rich
and I think I want this stuff
or need this stuff
and I know what I really need
and it’s not in my bedroom.
and it’s not able to be bought
in any damn store.” (p.88)

Billy has walked away from an abusive home and ended up in a country town living in an old train carriage. He ponders after receiving his first pay from casual work in a cannery.
“… with nothing
you’re rich.
You’ve got no decisions,
no choice, and no worry.
Here I am walking
in the sunshine of another day
buying the world
and worrying over choices
I didn't have to make a week ago.
I wanted to spend the money
Quickly
so I could go back to nothing,
go back to being rich
and penniless again.” (p.81, from The Simple Gift UQP 2000)

There’s something wonderfully simple, even satisfying, about having less.

What do you think that you would gain by giving what you have?

Rich I tell you!

You are rich. Maybe you aren’t rich beyond your wildest dreams but rich nonetheless. Your privileged position in the world comes with warnings and responsibilities.

You may not have thought of yourself as rich but I hope to convince you differently. Until recently I hadn’t ever thought of myself as rich. I come from a working class family in a working class suburb. I could always think of other people who are much better off than me.

My brother-in-law, Peter Rees (who has a great blog at http://theloudproject.blogspot.com/) posted a link to a site called http://www.globalrichlist.com/. By entering my yearly salary I learnt that I am in top 1% – I am among the 50,000,000 richest people in the world. Even someone on the minimum wage in Australia is comfortably in the top ten percent.

Think about it. You have access to the internet and what’s more you can read, so you must have had quite an education. If you plan to have three square meals today then that sets you apart from half of the world who live on just a few dollars a day.

My new definition is that being rich means having more than I need. The truth is that beyond the actual needs of myself and my family I have money to spare. I regularly spend money going out to eat or for entertainment – I even have the means to go on holidays while still making payments on a house. I can even invest in the hobbies and talents of my children.

I haven’t said all this so that you want to hit me up for a loan, but hopefully I’ve convinced you that you are indeed rich. Like I said before being rich comes with warnings and responsibilities. Let me put these in the form of questions for you to think about:

Could you live without all that spare money and stuff?

Would you be willing to sacrifice your riches to help the poor?

Are you prepared to exchange some of your comfort to make others more comfortable?

If you are really ready for a hit between the eyes, read from the Bible in Luke 6:24-26, which has got me thinking recently.

If you have it to spare then you have it to share.
Discuss.