What’s really important in this world?

I don’t know the answer to the title of this blog.

I don’t think there are a lot of people giving this question a lot of thought these days.

It’s really too bad, because if more people were thinking of it, perhaps we wouldn’t have some of the problems we are facing in this world.  Money is something that seems to be important.  It is important to many people for a variety of reasons.  Some noble reasons for sure, but the majority of people’s reasons to get and have money are typically selfish.

Maybe that last sentence gets at the heart of the issue.  When looking at how big and important events or things are it depends a lot on perspective.  It’s incredibly important for me to be able to provide food, safety and some fun for my family.  For a town it’s probably very similar as well as a state or even a country.

Popularity, fame and luxury seem to be important, but would my life end without the next big Fast and Furious movie or another season of Modern Family?  Would I cease to exist without hearing the latest gossip from Hollywood?  Would I be able to survive without new curtains in my bedroom that aren’t as ugly as the ones currently hanging there?  Would I be able to survive with only two cars instead of three?

I most certainly would be able to go on without the list of things above, life may not be quite as enjoyable as it currently is temporarily, but I think we would all be able to adjust without those things.

So we can go a level deeper, what is important is only what you need to survive.  In Minnesota that looks a bit different than what that might look like in Brazil, but food, clothing, shelter and safety are what they are.  There are so many people who lack these basic important things in their lives, but yet this country is consumed with celebrity and materialistic pursuits.  It’s perhaps the not wanting to look or think about all those who have it so rough where these basic important needs aren’t met.

It’s becoming more and more difficult for me to ignore these people.  People who have life so tough and would be jealous of what I have because they have so little.

No matter what you happen to believe about the events that take place after you die, there seems to be a few truths that also help me get to the bottom of my question.  You can’t take any money with you when you are dead.  I suppose you could, it is a fact archeology has proven that a lot of people were buried with their “stuff”.  The only things you keep are those you give away.  Goodwill and charity lives on much longer in the memories of those you have helped.  Money and possessions are sold or divided up and soon forgotten.

I have a great friend who lives to make money, but only because he likes to give it away.  He also hates to be recognized for it.  That is who I think I would like to be, someone who has the ability to see all of the things I have been writing about and who lives it.  I don’t want to live my life any longer making more stuff for people who don’t need it, I think the most important thing in life is to help other people.  While I may not end up doing it the same way my friend does.  He is mostly interested in feeding hungry people.  I will find a way to meet the needs of those who are having a rough time and do it in a way that brings no attention to myself, only the way it is done.  Hopefully it will allow those people to be better people to each other and to the world.