CONTENTS
2: Workshop *Leaders 35
- Welcome to the World of Enough 35
- Lifestyle Workshop Outline 38
- More Workshop Ideas 39
- Workshop Resources 40
- Coaching Groups by Internet
2 – Workshop Leaders
Welcome to the World of Enough
(one hour workshop model)By David Schrock-Shenk
Mennonite Central Committee
Welcome to the World of Enough! Enough for Us. Enough for All! Welcome to Freedom from Things! An Experiment in Living in the Delight of Fairness! You and your friends are invited into a 30-day experiment of freedom and fairness!
What is Enough? Four billion people in the world live in that sustainable range of enough. Enough to eat. Enough to wear. Enough shelter.
One billion people in the world do not have enough. Not enough to eat. Not enough to wear. Not enough shelter. Not enough water. Not enough education. Not enough opportunity.
Another billion people also do not have “enough.” Not enough walking. Not enough community joy. Not enough delightful simplicity. Not enough freedom from things!
Welcome to a 30-day experiment in discovering the satisfying World of Enough. Sometimes like cross-country racers with heavy backpacks, our lives are actually burdened by too much stuff.
Could it be that in stripping away extra stuff we might actually discover more freedom!
Imagine an experiment of...
… biking or walking to school with friends.
… not having to worry about which clothes to wear.
… using only our fair share of the world’s gasoline.
… the simplicity of a walk in the park with friends.
… creating new ideas for simply living!
Welcome to “Freedom from Things!”
How to Launch an Experiment into the World of Enough!
1. Identify your group. This may be a student body, a church youth group, or a gathering of friends from church or community. Meeting together regularly throughout the 30 (15?) days will magnify the delight, the meaning and creativity of your experiment.
2. Create your own group’s plans. Originality and imagination bring life. Each group will find unique ways to discover a world of Just Enough. Possible features of the 30 days might include:
- With clothes, select five outfits for the month.
- Ride bicycle to school or work this month, preferably with friends! Or carpool or take bus or walk. Seek to use only the global average of 3 gallons of gas per person per week.
- Time your shower. Cut your shower time in half this month. And install a low-flow shower head.
- Plan several group activities during the month that embody “freedom from things.” Examples might include: playing softball, going on a nature hike or bicycle ride. If you run out of ideas, ask grandparents what they did during their group socials.
- Make a list of all the appliances you use in your personal life, such as TV, stereo, VCR, or hair dryer. Pick two that you will use during this month. Put the rest away.
- List the foods you eat on a typical day. Construct a diet for this month that includes (you decide the figure) calories a day.
- Build structures for compost piles behind your houses, school or church.
3. Touch the spiritual ground of seeking “freedom from things.” Gather personal and group resources which foster global empathy, meditation, poetry, music, scripture and prayer. Freedom from things becomes delightful when it becomes freedom to live lightly.
4. Encourage each other to journal. If we seek to discover new life patterns which transcend the clutches of materialism, we need to be ready to be keenly observant and reflective.
5. Share your experience with others. Your struggles and delights as a person and as a group can be an inspiration and a challenge for others who might also want to experiment with a World of Enough.
The unlimited possibilities of enough!
Spiritual foundation. The Bible tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” We have the capacity to create art, to enter into relationships with each other, to provide for our physical needs, to play, to worship God, and to enjoy nature.
Jesus said that he came to bring us an abundant life. (John 10:10) We enjoy an abundant life when we develop and exercise all our different abilities.
The economic system called a “market economy” says we can and should pursue an unlimited amount of material goods. We are told that an endlessly expanding base of material goods will allow us to pursue and expand our other capabilities. In fact, economists call the number that measures the amount of wealth a society produces a measure of “the standard of living.”
Current reality. What is the result of the human family following this advice?
The global upper class has more material goods than they need. People a century ago could not have imagined that 1+ billion people could live the way these 1+ billion people live. These people are told they should have more: they are often dissatisfied with what they have.
The global middle class has enough material goods to live on. These 3+ billion people have enough food, clothing, shelter, medical care, etc. These people are told they should get more: they are often dissatisfied with what they have.
The global lower class does not have enough material goods to support a decent life. These 1+ billion people do not have enough food, clothing, shelter, medical care. These people do not need to be told they should have more: they need more things and they know it.
As more societies join the global market, and as free trade agreements allow business to pursue their highest profits possible anywhere in the world, the gap between the upper, middle and lower classes is widening.
Limits. Many people think that our response to this situation depends on whether or not there are limits to the amount of goods the world can produce. If the world can produce a forever expanding amount of material resources, we should bring the dynamism of capitalism to all the poor and middle class people around the world and let the market supply their needs. If the Earth cannot produce a forever-expanding amount of material resources, we need to change the way the human family produces and distributes these goods.
Physical limits. Technology and capitalism are bringing us to the limits of the Earth’s ability to produce material goods. Modern agriculture uses fertilizer, pesticides and large equipment in ways that exhaust and destroy soil and water resources. Modern fishing uses sonar, dragnets and large ships in ways that exhaust and destroy the fish beds. Modern technology has given us a transportation system based on private cars that is exhausting and destroying oil reserves, the air we breathe and the atmosphere above us. We are “using up” instead of “using” natural resources: We are destroying the ability of the Earth to sustain life.
Ideological limits. The very idea that we can and should pursue “as much as possible” means those with more than they need do not share with those who have too little to live.
The limits of choices. Human beings have a limited life span. We have limited amounts of time and energy. When we choose one option, it eliminates or diminishes our ability to pursue other options.
The unlimited possibilities of enough! Here we encounter a great paradox. Pursuing “as many things as possible” limits the full development of our other capabilities. Choosing to acquire only enough things allows us fully to develop into the people God created us to be.
The unlimited pursuit of material goods limits our ability to develop our other capabilities. Rather than bringing us joy, this creates in us a deep sense of loss. People who have more than enough measure themselves by people who have even more: they lose their satisfaction and joy in what they already have. People pursuing careers lose their ability to spend time with their spouses and children: they lose the joy of these relationships. Societies cut down their forests, destroy their land and poison their air to produce the things people want. People drive to work and stare at a computer or machine all day, losing their physical strength and vitality. People are so exhausted from their daily lives that they choose not to go to church on Sunday morning, read their Bibles or talk with other people about their faith. Finally, the poor distribution of the Earth’s resources destroys the joy of those who have enough: how can we enjoy ourselves in a world where 1+ billion people lack the things they need to live?
Getting enough material goods to live on, and stopping there, gives us the time and energy to develop our other capabilities and to enjoy life! Working to unmask and destroy the lie that “our lives consist of the things we possess” allows us to build joyful and fulfilled lives on a smaller material base. Living with fewer things will allow many of us to work less, giving us more time to play, to build relationships, to enjoy nature, to go to church, to talk with our neighbors, and to enjoy nature. This will allow other people to do some of the work we used to do, expanding their ability to meet their needs. Using less of our money on ourselves will allow us to give more to others, bringing us immense satisfaction. Using fewer things will put less strain on the Earth, ensuring a future for our children and our children’s children. Using fewer packaged goods will allow us to expand our ability to prepare our own food: we can develop unlimited creativity and skill in cooking.
Getting to enough. However, getting to “enough” will not be easy. Our entire economy is based on creating unlimited desire for endless expansion. We are constantly bombarded with messages at home, in school and even in church that push us towards endless consumption. Our transportation system is built around the car. Our houses often are too large. Our jobs are predicated on a 40 hour week. We face astronomical bills for the medical care we receive. Our congress has allowed our social security system to erode, making us fear an old age lived in poverty.
But why would we want this to be easy? A great struggle allows us to develop our God-given capacities for analysis, for forming community, for making and keeping commitments, and for developing spiritual resources. The search for enough could be the search that helps us find the abundant life we long for, the abundant life for which God created us.
There are some basic steps we need to take to work on this. Each of us needs to pursue these steps in ways that are best for us.
- Find a group to work with as we pursue enough.
- Reflect on our true values.
- Reflect on the state of our lives.
- Study the economic and physical reality of our world:
- How are things produced?
- How are things distributed?
- How could things be made in ways that don’t destroy the Earth?
Make choices and plans:
How can those of us with too much move into the “world of enough?”
How can we help those with too little move into the “world of enough?”
(For more on “Enough” see “Trek” on p. 62)
Selected Bibliography for Welcome to the World of Enough
Alan Durning, How Much is Enough? The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1992
The tragic irony is that while the consumer society has been stunningly effective in harming the environment, it has failed to provide us with a sense of fulfillment. Yet the opposite extreme - poverty - may be even worse for the human spirit and devastates the environment too, as hungry peasants put forests to the torch and steep slopes to the plow.
If the Earth suffers when people have either too little or too much, the questions arise: How much is enough? When do more things cease to add appreciably to human life?
John F. Kavanaugh, Faces of Poverty, Faces of Christ, Orbis, Maryknoll, NY, 1991.
Photos and words interact in this compelling book, illustrating both the negative, material poverty which dehumanizes and the humanizing poverty as lived in simplicity by St. Francis.
Earl and Pat Hostetter Martin, Worldwinds, Meditations from the Blessed of the Earth, Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA, 1990. Foreword by Desmond Tutu.
A poignant collection of photos and meditations, written mostly by MCC workers around the world, which portray human dignity and deepest human worth and values amidst simplicity.
Tom Sine, Live it Up! How to Create a Life You Can Love, Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, l993.
This book is a call to abandon the comfortable, pleasant, attractive, reasonable form of slavery that has come to typify so many of our lives.... Live it Up! offers help for those who have begun to doubt the validity of conventional values and are looking for a better way to find joy and meaning in life. –Tony Campolo
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Lifestyle Workshop Outline
(two-to-four hour workshop model)By Kathleen Connolly
1. Introductions, why we are here, short personal history
2. Break Forth Into Joy! video (Part I-15:00), study guide: questions and discussion
3. Crest Art Exercise: celebrating my gifts rather than my possessions. Indicate in a word or symbol my gifts. May take up to an hour, including group sharing. Leader can do one on flip chart:
a) Talents and skills that I have; are these really my gifts?
b) Crest with God-given gifts. Participants pass crests around, others add gifts that they noticed in that person.
4. Possessions Exercise: on paper make two lists –
a) 10 things I own that I wouldn’t want to live without
b) 10 things I own that I could live without (see lists in ’Tis a Gift to Be Simple and Simply Organized)
5. Bartering Exercise: List things/services that I could use, e.g. dog grooming, sewing, baking, etc.; participants walk around, reading others’ lists, making a list of services they could offer.
6. Ritual Exercise: list
a) rituals of childhood
b) rituals now
c) rituals I’ve outgrown but continue
d) rituals I’ve learned here that I would like to try (like “Grocery Bag at a Party Store”)
7. Closing
Kathleen Connolly, a Roman Catholic living in Florida, is a former member of the Board of Directors of Alternatives, an experienced workshop leader on voluntary simplicity and a contributor to Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
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More Workshop Ideas
ALTERnativity: A Resource Pack for Churches from Christian Aid, Scotland, includes materials to help you organize a day for your local church or churches; a series of meetings in Advent; a session with the Sunday School or woman’s group meeting; a discussion at the bible study or house group. Includes Planning Event checklist, Program, Opening and Closing sessions, Workshop Outlines (7), Children’s Program for a Day Event, Children’s Workshop, and Worship. Contact Christian Aid, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1 EL (0131 220 1254, fax-1031 225 8861) email: mlunen@christian-aid.org.
Christmas Alternatives by Marigene Chamberlain, includes Objectives, Themes, Teaching Guide (75 minutes workshop), Handouts/worksheets (3), Display Table, Evaluation.
Let Jesus Come, Let Santa Go: Celebrating an Alternate Christmas, audio workshop, six 30 minute sessions. Free.
Lifestyle Simplification Lab, created and developed by The Institute for Cultural Affairs, 5911 Western Trail, Greensboro, NC 27410 (910/605-0143, fax-9640) ICAGboro@igc.apc.org, includes Facilitation Guide and Participant’s Guidebook. This guide provides detailed procedures for conducting a one-day lab for individuals and families, which focuses on: “Articulating the Context for LifeStyle Simplification” and “The Boundaries of Enough.” This program design has been extensively tested and proven effective if facilitated as laid out.
Two-day Lifestyle Simplification Seminars for family units include teenagers and follow-up. Five sessions focus on The World in Transition, My Personal Involvement, New Responsible Action, Our Personal and Family Plan, Building a Sustainable Community.
The Lifestyle Simplification Series includes participatory workshops for individuals and families concerned about developing a simpler, sustainable lifestyle for the 21st Century.
Lifestyle Simplification materials include self-guided workbooks in addition to other writings and concepts which challenge individuals and families who are exploring new ways of configuring their lifestyles.
Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love & Joy Back into the Season, by Jo Robinson & Jean Coppock Staeheli. THE CLASSIC for simplifying Christmas for secular-minded folks or people of faith. With thoughtful suggestions, creative exercises and answers to often-asked questions, this book helps people create celebrations that give them joy and satisfaction. 207 pp. $13.
Leader’s Guide to the Unplug the Christmas Machine Workshop by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli, guides leaders to create a four-hour workshop that helps participants clarify their beliefs and make realistic plans for more joyful, meaningful celebrations. A Participant’s Manual is included and can be photocopied. 80 pp. Free.
Unplug Audio Workshop for a self-led personal or small group workshop, or to solve the “continuity” problem of folks missing sessions. Listen online so that when they return they’re caught up.
Thousands of “Unplug” workshops have been given in the past decade and many variations have evolved.
“For a midweek religious study, ROOTS (Religion On Other Than Sunday) met in three 45 minute sessions. We had a general group meeting and then broke into small group discussion for 30 minutes. Because this was a church group, I added Scripture readings for each week.” Nancy Meehan Yao, Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Augustine, Florida. Visit www.SimpleLiving.org.
“I gave the ‘Unplug’ Workshop on two nights, Nov. 8th & 15th, 7-8:30 p.m. I divided the course content, two subjects each of the two nights. I gave them homework ‘to make a sign and post it in their home with their most cherished value for Christmas.’ The second night, we did the brainstorming exercise using ‘what gifts can we give that are not purchased.’ Everyone liked that and I got good ideas too.” Sally Landes, Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins, CO
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More Workshop Resources
“Planning an Alternative Christmas Workshop” (in chapter 4)
Simply the Best: Over 30 Years of Alternatives CD-ROM.Alternatives has been promoting social justice for 30 years. Now the bulk of its educational work is available on one CD. This collection encourages and equips individuals to live more simply for their own happiness and for the health of Earth and all its creatures. The CD-ROM allows editors of paper-based and electronic publications to “cut and paste” images and text electronically. Both Interactive (html) and Word Processing formats. Accommodates both Mac & PC. Most of the resources are also available free in the Archives.
Over 30 Years of Alternatives CD-ROM includes...
- Leader’s Guide to ‘Unplug the Christmas Machine’ Workshop
- Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? (1988-2007)
- Wedding Alternatives
- Simple Living 101: Toolbook for Activists
- Congregational Christmas Packets (1980’s-1994)
- Who’s Risen from the Dead, Anyway? Lent & Easter resources (1980’s-2005)
- Those Who Speak for God
- Christmas Campaign Kit (Carols with Justice)
- Consumo, Overlord of Overconsumption
- Simpler Living Alternatives Calendar for Any Year
- Treasury of Celebrations
- Bulletin Inserts
- Voluntary Simplicity Study-Action Guide
- Simply Delicious Cookbook
- Much more
Also Alternatives’ SPANISH resources :
- Nuestra Boda (Wedding Alternatives)
- Adviento (Whose Birthday Is it, Anyway?)
- Recursos para la Cuaresma (Lent)
Living Simply & Loving It! Audio. People of faith seeking, choosing and growing on the journey of integrity. Five 14-minute segments, for personal inspiration at home or in the car, small groups or Sunday adult forum. Adapted from talks in “Simple Living 101.” 70+ minute audio.
Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art for Simpler Living & Global Justice. Unique! Over 1000 Quotations | More Than 475 Illustrations | For Personal Inspiration | For Electronic & Paper Publications | Royalty-Free for Nonprofits. Powerful visuals and brief quotations are very effective ways of promoting social change, especially as North Americans develop shorter attention spans.
Sharing the joy of simpler living, the urgency and practicality of sustainability, and the need for social justice, it includes humorous, serious, religious and secular quotations and images. “Cut & paste” for newsletters, church bulletins, web sites, etc. 10 chapters, 200+ pp.
Adviento. Spanish version of “Whose Birthday?” 1997-2007. Free online.
Stories to Read Aloud Or Alone: “Christmas Reader,”“Christmas Collection,” “Christmas Sampler.” Excerpts from all three free.
Family Stories & Games.Christmas Game, Anytime Game, craft activity, Christmas Stories (above).
Food, Poverty, Simplicity
The Good Life Curriculum -- 5 Lessons to Nurture Simplicity Within Christian Communities. Interactive! Flexible! For children or intergenerational gatherings. For Vacation Bible School, camps, midweek school, confirmation supplement. Basic curriculum free online.
Food & Faith: Justice, Joy & Daily Bread – Michael Schut & Earth Ministry. “Eating is a profoundly spiritual and religious act.” A five-session curriculum with essays, resource guide and a section on Community and Congregational Supported Agriculture. Eating responsibly. 296 pp. $15.
World Community Cookbook series from Pilgrim Press
More-with-Less Cookbook – Doris Janzen Longacre. THE classic world community cookbook. 328 pp. $14.
Extending the Table: a World Community Cookbook – Joetta Handrich Schlabach. Recipes and stories from over 80 countries encourage people to learn from the world community. 336 pp. $14.
Simply in Season
Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook
Prices, content and availability subject to change.
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Selected Bibliography for Welcome to the World of Enough
• Alan Durning, How Much is Enough? The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1992
The tragic irony is that while the consumer society has been stunningly effective in harming the environment, it has failed to provide us with a sense of fulfillment. Yet the opposite extreme - poverty - may be even worse for the human spirit and devastates the environment too, as hungry peasants put forests to the torch and steep slopes to the plow.
If the Earth suffers when people have either too little or too much, the questions arise: How much is enough? When do more things cease to add appreciably to human life?
• John F. Kavanaugh, Faces of Poverty, Faces of Christ, Orbis, Maryknoll, NY, 1991.
Photos and words interact in this compelling book, illustrating both the negative, material poverty which dehumanizes and the humanizing poverty as lived in simplicity by St. Francis.
• Earl and Pat Hostetter Martin, Worldwinds, Meditations from the Blessed of the Earth, Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA, 1990. Foreword by Desmond Tutu.
A poignant collection of photos and meditations, written mostly by MCC workers around the world, which portray human dignity and deepest human worth and values amidst simplicity.
• Tom Sine, Live it Up! How to Create a Life You Can Love, Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 1993.
This book is a call to abandon the comfortable, pleasant, attractive, reasonable
form of slavery that has come to typify so many of our lives.... Live it Up!
offers help for those who have begun to doubt the validity of conventional
values and are looking for a better way to find joy and meaning in life. –Tony
Campolo
©Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license (originally 2000, 2005, 2007 Alternatives for Simple Living)
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