I live in Argentina. Now Argentina is not a poor country. In fact, the people here have it pretty good. But back in 2001 the economy collapsed, and many people lost everything they had. This crash has caused a great widening of the gap between the haves and the have-nots. My home is with those that have, although they do not have like those in western worlds. Actually, most people from western worlds would say that we are the have-nots. In most if not all of the western worlds, people spend to satisfy their desires. Not their needs. People spend to keep up with the fashions, to keep up with the Jones', or just for the sake of spending. Money is a commodity, not a necessity. I speak in generalities of course, as there are equally people that have very little money in these countries too. But the majority do not need to think about where their next meal is coming from. The problem as I see it, is that we have forgotten what our needs really are... and see our wants as part of our needs. Basic essentials include: a roof over our heads (warmth and shelter), food in our stomachs, clothing on our backs, and someone to love us and to love. If we have these items then we can live rich lives. But what happens when your roof is a mansion, with clothing draped over the floor that is designed to be trodden over. What happens if the food in our stomachs is excessive, and the waste has to be thrown out for nobody can eat any more. What is it when the clothing on our backs has lost meaning in function and labels and form take precedence, with no expense spared to acquire the current trends. What have we come to when the person offerring true love is rejected for the offer of cheap sex. Excess. All is excess. Have we ever thought about our US$600,000 house which could have been just as comfortable as a US$400,000 house although without the prestige. There are many places where a house could be built for only $US6,000. Perhaps that extra US$200,000 could have been better used... Has consideration ever been given to the money spent on such rich foods and the excess of them. So many organisations can feed a child each day for the cost of a can of Coke. Incredible how easy it is to pick up a can of Coke every day, but how hard it is to commit ourselves to this measly amount on a regular basis. Clothes that do not match the fashion are thrown out. Who would ever want them, we often say as they go into the bin. But even the clothes that the Salvos reject are better than those worn by many people I have seen here. Would we ever consider going without those ultimate designer shoes so we could clothe an entire family. How do we treat those people stuck on the streets. A look of despise, of rejection, of repulsion, can cause yet another scar of hurt on their already hardened heart. Yet a moment to chat with them, to show genuine love, true care, would be remembered for a lifetime. We readily accept love from the more "acceptable" people, but how often are we ready to give it. These are only a few ways that a small change could make such a huge difference. Is it the only change we have to make? No, I don't think so. We are all so selfish in our own lifestyles, that even such a small change as this would be so difficult to achieve. Sometimes radical change is the only answer. Jesus told some of the rich he met that they needed to sell everything and give it all away to the poor. Maybe that is what we need to do. Maybe not. What is God saying to you?