What We Need is Here: Living Frugally and Graciously in Hard
Times
Rev. Ted Tollefson
©January 25, 2009 @ UU Society of River Falls
1.
Theological Common-Ground: One World at a Time
Unitarian Universalism is a 'this-worldly' religion. Though
at times we have fretted about hell or joked about heaven, the world
where we find ourselves is our home. Our loyalty,
love, care and curiosity are centered here. We want to
understand this world, take good care of it, and whenever possible give
it the shape of peace-and-justice (shalom/salaam). One of the
implications of this view is that in hard times, we need to share what
we're learning. In particular I'm interested in sharing what we
now know about living frugally and graciously in hard times.
2. What We Need is
Here: Four Helpful Questions with Examples
A. What do we already have to help us
meet current needs?
Rather than continuing to pay too much for a highly-refined fossil fuel
(LP Gas), I turned to forest around my home and noticed alot of
standing dead timber with sunlight hidden inside. I
contacted a fraternity at UW River Falls Falls that has a reputation
for good firewood and great parties. We now use LP gas to
maintain a baseline (62* when I'm home alone; 64* or higher when my
wife is home) and use wood and sweat to move us into a radiant comfort
zone. So too "micro-loans", use small infusions of cash
that are use to help locally-based groups in the third world turn
hidden resources into income and social capital.
B. How can we reduce waste? establish
a more effective match between needs and resources?
In cold weather, we don't heat the whole house but the floor we're
on. In sub-zero weather, the main floor becomes a 'cabin' where
we live. Warming the skin (radiant heat) or keeping the
head/feet/core warm is cheaper than heating the whole room.
Keeping the humidity up to at least 30% feels like two extra
degrees. Heating when we're home and maintaining a base-line when
we're gone. So too, we can provide electrical power more
efficiently by shifting from big centralized generation to a more
decentralized local generation, from dumb power grids to smart power
grids that allow consumers more choices and some consumers to also
become producers.
C. What resources are embedded in
networks of family, friends, neighbors?
Rather than buying one more snow-blower, I can barter with a neighbor
to clear driveways after a big storm. Rather than renting a car
on vacation, we can ask for rides, rent bikes or borrow
bikes. Rather than dining out, we can cook with friends.
Rather than doing all the home/yard work myself, I can host
retreats and in exchange for a day-long retreat establish an hour of
shared 'working meditation'. Rather than asking for all my
income in capital, I have requested a $1000 barter project this spring
or summer. We'll be building a little roof over the entryway and
building social capital at the same time.
D. How can we strengthen social
networks and build up 'social capital'?
Rather than assuming scarcity and competing for scarce funds, our
Social Outreach Committee and Welcoming Task Force chose to work
together on a Soup and Bread Event that raised $500 for printed
materials, DVDs and a rainbow banner. Rather than each
church making haphazard donations to those in need, many of our local
congregations have banded together to form ARC: Assistance Resource
Center. It helps callers find the resources they need and also
provides single-time vouchers for gas, lodging and food. We could
set up a 'barter bank' in this congregation, to encourage and
facilitate the cash-free exchange of goods and services. We might
help
foster a barter based economy in our region. We could invest in
the networks that sustain our lives.
Blessed are the peace-makers