Novelty

After getting back the items I bought in New York (and hidden away during Lent so I didn't indulge in them), I feel like I've been suddenly given lots (well, a few) lovely pressies. It feels like the (two) new pairs of boots, the bracelet & the CDs are brand new and give me that lovely post-shopping glow.

This got me wondering whether it's actually the things themselves we desire or the novelty of them. I've heard that some parents keep their children's toys on a 'rotation' so that some are put away for a while and then brought out after a few weeks. The child feels like it's been given a whole load of new toys to play with and the old ones go away to be brought out again later. aside from being super-organised, this seems to demonstrate the desire we have for "new stuff".

Is this simply greed? The constant desire for things I don't yet have. But unless we get rid of the old stuff we just amass a mountain of junk. I am particularly prone to this.

I'm using The Secret to get Brad Pitt

Well, not actually me - the woman who wrote this article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/05/08/nosplit/ftsecret108.xml

I don't know whether it's symptomatic of our society or whether it's always been the case, but I can't seem to get away from this Loreal-type "you're worth it" culture. It's scary that some make their own lust for 'things', 'success' and 'achievements' such a high priority in their lives. As the author of this article says:

"like most secrets, this one is a bit of a let-down; greed dressed up as spirituality. It assumes that we all deserve to have whatever we want. We don't. I suspect that the biggest secret to happiness is realising that and then getting on with life, whatever it throws at you."

Podcasts and debt

The April Methodist Podcast is now online!! "Hurrah!" I hear you cry. Even better, it features the beautiful dulcet tones of our very own Michaela and Toby, discussing the highs and lows of retail deprivation. Check it out at

http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.webradio

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There's an interesting debate going on over at The Interface about Fair Trade products and whether they really make a difference. I'm inclined to say yes, but some disagree...
http://www.theinterface.org.uk/?q=node/110
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US debtors turn to Bible to make ends meet
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/01/wdebt01.xml

This article is rather interesting. It's good that people are getting support from churches when they face financial difficulty. But am I the only one to feel rather uncomfortable about churches charging up to $90 for the service?