Poverty and Simplicity

Some of us have been reading articles and sharing conversation around the vow of poverty during the last few months.

I am out of times that focused on simple living. "Live simply that others may simply live."

A lot of religious discussion on poverty addresses the common good.

In some many ways, simple lifestyle was easy in Bura-Tana, Kenya. There wasn't much to have so we didn't have to worry to much about choices. And the focus of our day to day ministries were integral human development--helping people with basic needs. So maybe I am spoiled. I didn't have much money and didn't have anything to spend it on except basics (rice, beans, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, kale and collard greens [locally, sukumu wiki--low cost greens to push the week until something else could be found].

Now, I try to learn and be informed by a bigger consciousness of common good--common good of the whole of everything--all of God's amazing, magnificent creation. The idea of footptrint (usually as in carbon footprint) can be expanded.

How much do I need?

How much do I use?

In addition to trying to reduce my carbon footprint,
what about reducing my attention footprint--listening, and paying attention more to a bigger world than demanding attention for my own.
How about expanding my mindfulness footprint?