The Cost of Economy

is charity. How so? Let me explain.

An email is more efficient, but a letter sent by snail mail is so much more meaningful, especially if hand-written.

I'm not really coming up with any other examples at present. But think of situations or tasks by which something is made more efficient or cost effective. Now consider if that same situation or task eliminates time spent with another person, building character, or even the creation of something unique or original. 

In working alongside one of the volunteers who consistently help the Missionaries of Charity, she mentioned that Sisters are guided by charity not economy. The choice of love over the easy or cheap way. Hmm. 

Now dictionary.com defines charity as "benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity" As Christians, we know that charity, or love, is the third and greatest theological virtue.  A lot of people will consider charity to be that monetary gift to a group, organization, or even individual in need. But I challenge you to think of charity as the gift given without expecting anything in return. This gift can be in the form of time, talent, treasure, or material items.  I learned the hard way, awhile back, that one will be quickly disappointed if they expect all their acts of generosity, love, or even kindness to be reciprocated. 

Let's think in terms of the economy. I don't want to discredit means of mass production. There is a lot of benefit to it. But at what point do we begin to create junk in the name of cost effectiveness? How much better would our personal creations be - movies, photos, paintings, stories, music, etc - if we weren't used to so many replicas? The reasons originals cost so much is because they are that - originals. Handcrafted furniture is an example I can think of by which a person lives charity (goodwill toward humanity) by creating it, and in that they are hopefully living the authentic call of God's will. 

The cost of economy is also laziness. We often will choose the easy means over the quality and right means to accomplish a task or do what is needed. I'm guilty of this darn near every day, though on the farm, I've learned, this usually quickly back fires on you. An example (non-farm) would be what my family terms cardboard (frozen) pizza. It's not near as good as the hand made kinds but it sure is quick. 

How hindered are our relationships because we choose to communicate via text, e-mail, and occasionally, phone call? What would be the value of actually driving a distance to visit a friend, especially if a significant distance? Now I'll be the first to admit that I've been blessed with an abundance of freedom at present (that comes with its own cost), and have utilized a lot of that time to drive and visit a few friends here and there. Do we all have the freedom to do this? No. But it sure means a lot to a person when you do. 

Do you get my drift? Are you picking up what I'm putting down? I think this post is mostly a bunch of ramblings about some thing I might claim to know something about. As Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen would say, if there is anything good in this [post], it is of God. If there is anything terrible, it is of me. 

Even in need of His great mercy. God Bless.