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Hopeful Story, July 13, 2014

  Our studio apartment is only 360 square feet. It has not been upgraded since the Inn On The Park was built in 1977. It has a tiny bathroom with tub and shower, and a narrow kitchenette with a two burner stove, small sink and microwave. The lanai (balcony), with its amazing 15th story view of Waikiki, Diamond Head and the ocean, is 40 square feet. The bedroom/living room contains a large fridge, queen sized bed, loveseat, book case, table and two chairs.
  It also has a TV which allows us to watch our go-to channel, HGTV. As we viewed some of our favourite property shows, we found ourselves reacting strongly to several young newlywed couples who insisted on granite counters, stainless steel appliances, larger ensuites, more bedrooms, bigger closets, and better views. They wanted so much and they seemed unwilling to start small. One young woman even said, "Why wait until retirement to live the life I want now?" I felt like asking her, "What's wrong with a humble starter home?"
  Her comment sparked a conversation about our own needs and wants. For our sabbatical, we had limited ourselves to two carry on bags and two small backpacks, but had we still taken too much? As a fun experiment, we decided to itemize everything that we have not used. My list included a jacket, two slacks, two t-shirts, three pairs of long socks, a running singlet and extra ear buds. Marja's list also included a jacket, as well as six shirts, a scarf, a running singlet, two pairs of sandals and a baggie full of extra toiletries. We laid these unused, unneeded items on the bed and took a picture.
  There are those who say that you can never have or take too much. Jesus, on the other hand, told his followers to travel light. His life on earth was characterized by a beautiful simplicity that is foreign to many.
  By living in 400 square feet of space for three months and itemizing the unnecessary stuff that we packed, we have been reminded again how much we really need.
  Even less than we thought!
- Pastor Peter



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