This is great and thoughtful stuff. I wish everyone in the BIC Church was as committed to simple living as you are!

The way I read the core value, it's not just about our selfishness in terms of possession, but the means by which we acquire possessions and the effect that acquisition has on others. For example, those who spend an inordinate amount of time at the office in the quest to earn money and acquire possessions do so by neglecting their families/friends/health/etc. In the same way, when we acquire possessions from vendors who engage in unsafe or illegal business practices--sweatshops, child labor, etc.--we do so at the cost of others. Our sisters and brothers are oppressed, violated, and devalued so that we can acquire possessions.

This is one of the biggest things that I struggle with in terms of my commitment to this core value. I'd like to say that I buy all my clothes second-hand or from reputable vendors, but I don't. I'd like to say that I research the farming and/or agricultural production methods that brought to me the banana I'm currently eating, but I didn't. I try to engage in buying local produce or fair trade goods whenever possible, but it's difficult to do this all the time, particularly in our highly materialistic, always-on-the-go culture.

Thanks for your thoughts, and the forum to express mine!