David Howenstein Blog



This blog focuses on putting spirituality into action, and is based on the bookJUMBO JUMBLE(by this blog's author).

  • Each blog entry includes:
  • JR - the author’s reflection of the writings in the book
  • PP - a personal question for the reader
  • PA - My own personal answer (not included in the book) to the question

7/11/2019

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Illustration by Miki Howenstein

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Sharing beauty delights one and all.

Money is like manure. If you pile it up, it stinks. But if you spread it around, it can do a lot of good. If we do not use our wealth and resources to help lessen the gap between rich and poor, when the world looks back on us, people with money who didn't do anything will be remembered as war criminals. (From Ken Ausubel’s book “Restoring the Earth,” p 153)
JR: Accumulating more and more goods with the attitude that you are deserving (while others are not) or as security against a hostile world is critically damaging not only to society (in that it is taking away from the whole) but also to your own soul (in that you pit yourself against others). By sharing your wealth, others become your supporters and a deeper sense of security is created than any great wealth could ever bestow.
PP: How can you use some of your wealth to build stronger relationships with people near and far?

PA: When I was younger, I worried about my finances and often focused on only holding onto my money, giving little to others and, worst of all, taking money from others (i.e. by cheating my employer to get more money). I came to realize that this “closed me down” and I thought of myself as unworthy since I felt like a cheater at times. When I saw myself that way, I often felt uncomfortable around others, feeling less “wholesome” than them or fearing they’ll see the “fraud” in me. And how could it be otherwise, as I didn’t even believe enough in myself so I became a cheater, harming me much more than anyone else. Over the past few years, I’ve been making a conscious effort not to cheat and to give more freely to those I love and the good causes I support. While I still have a long way to go, I have felt a steady “opening up of my spirit” and feel more comfortable with others as there is increasing integrity between how I use my money for good and building more trusting and solid relationships. Try it - You’ll like it!

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