Processing all of the political messages about social insecurity, Dan and I are feeling very fortunate that we’d already figured out that we’re probably going to have to work the rest of our lives, anyway. Frankly, the “before” picture of the amount of money we’d have to live on—the promised figures that now we’re having to fight to keep—weren’t going to cut it anyway: not if we’d like to keep drinking our cappuccinos. (Not a luxury. Maybe it’s true that there’s something addictive in there…) A few months ago, we were whining about the amount we’d get from the government. Now we’re lusting after it.
Reminds me of a wonderful story from the Jewish tradition. A poor man and his wife go to the rabbi and say: “Rabbi, our house is too small. We need more space but we can’t afford to move.” The Rabbi listens and replies. “Take your goat and put it in your house.” The poor man trusts the Rabbi, and so he brings his goat inside the house. After a few days, he goes back to visit the Rabbi. “Rabbi, I did what you said, but nothing has changed.” “Ah”, says the Rabbi. “That’s because you haven’t brought in your chickens yet. Go bring your chickens into the house.” The man brings all his chickens into the house. Now it is more crowded than ever. He goes back to the Rabbi. “I know why you’re here. So here’s what you need to do now. Bring your cow inside.” “The cow?” “Yes, the cow.” So the man brings his cow in the house. They are so crowded now, they can’t even move. So the man goes to the Rabbi one last time. “Rabbi, nothing’s working. The situation is impossible.” “Ah hah!” says the Rabbi. “But there’s one last thing for you to do. Now, when you go home, I want you to take every animal out of the house.” The poor man and his wife do as they’re instructed, and can’t believe how much room there is in their house!
Carol Orsborn