Daddy's Little Hippie

I love my dad. He is probably my favorite guy in the whole world (said in an adorable little 4 year old voice). He is pretty great, let's just be real. One of the jokes my dad and I have is that I am a hippie. He really enjoys referring to me as his little hippie. Sure, I don't shower as often as the average American, I like my hair being long and wavy, I wear flowers in my hair, I would go barefoot more often if I could, I use cloth shopping bags when I go to the grocery store, I recycle when I can (and have been sad because the waste management people do not bring enough recycle bags for our apartment complex), I bought a bike this summer to start riding to work/school to save on gas, and ... well the list goes on further. At first I was a little offended by being referred to as a hippie, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I'm not the 1960's type of hippie. So I am far more accepting of being "daddy's little hippie".

I like the idea of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It is not just throwing things in a blue bag and sitting it next to the dumpster, it is much more than that. It is taking better care of what we already have. This weekend I was talking with a friend about our generations lack of concern for what we have. The sense of stewardship among our generation is severely lacking. If we have something and we break it, no worries... we can buy a new one. What was even more disturbing is what my friend said to me. She was telling me that people younger than us up to their early 30's seem to have a lack in stewardship for not just their own things but others as well. Example: you allow someone to borrow something. They don't take care of it as you would like and it breaks. Then they give it back in many more pieces than when you lent it to them. They do not seem as concerned about the situation as you or I may be. What has happened to our stewardship? What has happened to our concern for other people or even ourselves?

One thing I have begun thinking ... well the hippie approach to thinking... we have been so trained and so conditioned to think that it is not a big deal and we can just go out and buy another (insert item). I'm not suggesting that anytime something breaks we should have a fit and begin mourning it like a lost family member or friend. That is a little excessive. We shouldn't even be mad at the person (or ourselves) for breaking whatever it is that is now broken. We should, however, take care of what we have and what others have been so kind as to allow us to use. What better way to "stick it to the man" (I'm a hippie... don't judge) than reusing something until we absolutely have no way of getting around getting a new whatever. Why do we really need two of this or that item? Why do we feel the compulsion to spend money on things we don't really need? Can I blame this on being raised int he land of the free? Because, I really want to do that. We seem to think that spending is no big deal. Being an American, we have been raised around an endless supply of whatever we have. We have been taught that limited supply does not, in fact, mean limited. Companies tell us things are "limited" so we will run out and buy them. Then it runs out but comes back two weeks later. Marketing has tricked us into thinking everything is limitless. We forget that things really are temporary.

We were allowed to use planet Earth short term as our home. We keep our homes clean and want people to feel at home in our homes. Shouldn't we keep our planet clean? Shouldn't we care enough to take care of what we have? We only have a limited time on Earth. It may feel like for-ev-er (said in a 16 year old valley girl accent). Our forever is not, in reality, forever. We are a tiny speck in the grand scheme of things. If we take care of what we have, we leave a better future for those coming after us for as long as the Lord allows. When a friend allows you to stay in their home, do you trash what is not yours? Or, do you take better care of it because you want them to let you use it again?

Taking small steps to make our "home" better makes this "home" better for our children's children's children... If the Lord allows things to go on that long or longer.

So, I am not ashamed I use cloth shopping bags. I am not ashamed I am trying to be better at riding my bike to work. I am not ashamed I don't shower as often as others do (that actually has nothing to do with conserving water... I'm just not ashamed of my lack of showering... too far? Too far...).