Bit o’ Honey ~ the little things that please

“Meaure wealth by the things we can afford to do without.”  From Rev. Tim Jensen’s Oct. 12th sermon at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, Maine.

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It’s a good time to consider what I can do without.  I can easily do without a T.V.  I can do without buying CDs and new books; the library will suffice.  I can do without my favorite bottle of Australian red, though I treat myself every couple of weeks to a glass at Blue.  I can do without a car and shopping at the mall, without tanning salons and botox.  I can do without fancy meals in swanky restaurants, but I do love iton the rare occasion I have them.  Most of all,  I can do without the news.

I’ve put a moratorium on the news.  The news only reminds me of the things I can’t control, and I don’t need to be reminded of that.  I’ve known it for years.  Listening to the news makes me feel small and full of fear.  I  am none of those things.  So when I hear the news, I change the channel.  I listen to classical or jazz, anything but the news.  I’ve even been snagged by the worst country music.  Those corny lyrics make me laugh, and I can’t afford to do without that.

I measure my wealth every day, and every day I’m grateful.  I have a beautiful home in a great city, work I love, wonderful friends and family, a strong body and quick mind.  It’s more than enough to get through this life.   

So keeping today’s sermon in mind, I biked hard around the Back Cove and Eastern Promenade, because I can’t do without the sweat and breath of physical activity.  I called my parents and my brothers, because they are anchors in my life.  And I cooked and cooked until the windows steamed over, because food does more than fill my stomach.  It fills me with joy and pleasure, and who can do without that?

Carrot-squash soup!

Roasted beets!

Pasta sauce!

Steamed cabbage  . . .

Stuffed and baked!

Everyone’s talking about the news, measuring their losses.  But I say it’s time to count our blessings and remember just how wealthy we are. 

Maybelline says, “What me worry?”

Keep counting . . .