SNEAKERS AND SCARVES
- Gwen Henderson
- May 4
- 2 min read
SNEAKERS AND SCARVES
The father asked, “Son, how many pairs of sneakers do you own?” The son answered with a number that was more than he could wear in a month if he wore a different pair every day. The father turned to his friend, “And how many pairs do you own?” The friend answered with a number that far exceeded the son’s. The combined pairs of sneakers could easily stock a small footwear store. Not to sound judgmental - the question that begged an answer: is this a case of appetite or greed?
What is the line between appetite (a subjective desire) and greed (an excessive, insatiable desire?
I own things or when I want to sound pious, “I have been given custodial care for things.” I know the line between appetite and greed, and it is very easy to cross. For those of us seeking to lower our consumption of the world’s resources, it behooves us to know, “am I greedy, am I trying to satisfy an appetite of an unsatisfied self, or is it a simple appetite for some desired thing?”
I mentioned the guys’ sneaker collection. I can’t tell you the source of their over-whatever it is. So, let’s just stick with me!
Having met few that I did not like, I stopped buying scarves. I stopped purchasing but my appetite has not waned. A few years ago, I sent a box of scarves to my sister-niece. Every scarf sent has been replaced and more. Do I have more patterned fabric than I can wear? Is my appetite stimulated by the sight of a beautiful scarf even though there is no need attached? I have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism which is known to increase appetite; could I have transferred the desire for food to scarves? I could go on with the questions but the pertinent one for this discourse; is it a simple appetite – a strong desire for scarves or is it greed… the intense desire to consume more than one needs?
Perhaps the continued pursuit of more after one has enough indicates a state of being unsatisfied. That is possibly true regarding material things, but what about an inner unsatisfied state?
To be unsatisfied can indicate discontent with what one has, pushing them to be greedy. Or the discontent may whet one’s appetite to seek the source of discontentedness…a good thing. Still the fine line exist between having enough to promote healthy growth and having too much with opposite results. We all know individuals who become “too much” when they discover religion or exercise or healthy eating.
The thing about having TOO many sneakers or scarves is that they can become an albatross called gluttony. Time that could easily be spent on something more rewarding is used to care for and maintain them.
My desire is to become less encumbered by things that require more of me than the value that they bring to me. A scarf is just an accessory as is a pair of sneakers. What did you think about as you read about scarves and sneakers?
PONDER THIS THOUGHT--- Greed is less an appetite issue and more of a heart issue.
So many things came to mind, including giving up buying books for Lent one year! Have I read all that I bought? Not even half of them! I have an addiction gene ( chocolate, ice cream, popcorn, sugar, salt) or maybe a collector’s gene ( clocks, banks, ships, Black art) whatever you want to call it, that gets triggered ever so often. When I recognize that it’s active I stop it before I go overboard or it gets painful (illness, junkie house, broke). The older I get the harder it is to stop myself. I’ve not thought of it as greed or as a sin. Perhaps that will help me stop; if it’s not already too late. We must pra…