Contemporary Commentary: True Moderation

“If I have too much, I might forget my Creator. If I have too little, I might steal from my brother.”

Proverbs 30:9

This philosophy was inspired by what some believe was the wisest and richest person who ever lived.  King Solomon of Israel.

As I recently returned from a trip to the Philippines, I noticed there a perfect balance of economic equality.

Africa, let’s say, for the most part, is impoverished.  Europe, Australia, and the United States are, for the most part, comparatively rich, right?  Then there is the Philippines . . . right in the middle.  People have clean drinking water, electricity, and McDonalds . . . At the same time, the average salary is 1/6^th of what it is in America . . . At the same time, most things there, including rent, utilities and home ownership,  cost 1/6^th as much as they do in America.  Seeing how the richest countries, on average, have thirty times the income of the poorest, 1/6^th as much as the richest is relative balance between the two.

Because Filipino’s are half way between poverty and riches, and, actually, leaning toward the poverty side from the United States way of life, they are very resourceful people.  They waste nothing and are beautifully frugal.  (Just imagine America during the Great Depression of the 1930′s.)

I threw away a small green olive jar when it was empty and got corrected by my fiancée because it could be used for a homemade salad dressing container.

The above picture best describes it . . . A motorcycle, at the most designed for two thin people, has a sidecar added, so now many more passengers can ride for a fraction of a dollar each way.

What else do you see in the picture?

People are very clean, professional . . . and yes . . . VERY happy!

Can you put a price on happiness???

That is what I discovered!  When resources and funds are limited, not only is incredible imagination spawned, what is possessed is shared and truly appreciated.  This moderation soaks into one’s character from youth, creating a country full of humble, kind and creative citizens.

The crime rate in the Philippines is very low . . . The divorce rate there is very low . . . The happiness level there? . . . . . . Extremely High!

It is so hot there, being so near the equator, and most people, while they can afford air-conditioning, choose not to pay for the excessive electric bill (except perhaps for one window unit in a bedroom for nighttime) . . . Fans are used in about every room instead of air-conditioning . . .This means that people’s windows are open almost all of the time to circulate the air.

As a result, a few gnats come in, about sundown, and are attracted to the overhead lights . . . And yet . . . small lizards come in to eat the gnats . . . The Lord provides! . . . I was so fascinated, watching the ceiling, as bugs were captured by the lizards . . . I called it “Lizard TV” . . . Like a bee and a flower . . . Balance was there in just about everything I saw.

If the sin of America is overindulgence (making it selfish), and the sin of Africa is corruption (making it impoverished), let us take a lesson from the moderate Filipinos and downsize our material blessings and invest in not only true earthly happiness, yet eternal rewards as well, which will undoubtedly spring from our simplicity of living and true moderation.

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.”

Mark 8:36

-Brother Bart-

Bart Sibrel  is an award winning filmmaker, writer and investigative journalist who has been producing movies and television programs for thirty years. During this time he has owned five production companies, been employed by two of the three major networks and produced films shown on ABC, NBC, CNN, TLC, USA, BET, as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. To discuss his films, he has appeared and been interviewed on The Daily Show, Geraldo, NBC, CNN, FOX, Tech TV, Coast to Coast, and The Abrams Report. Articles featuring Mr. Sibrel’s films have been published in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, USA Today and many others.  His top awards from the American Motion Picture Society include “Best Cinematography”, “Best Editing” and “Top Ten Director”. As the writer and director of the infamous ”A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon” which exposed the moon landing hoax, Mr. Sibrel has collected over the years innumerous military, government, industrial and private sources for credible firsthand verification of very real conspiratorial crimes against humanity. He will use these contacts and experience in exposing the true and unbelievably horrific intentions of the hidden minority who have diabolical intentions for mankind in his bi-weekly column for The Sleuth Journal “Brother Bart’s Conspiracy Corner“.  When such concepts are speculative and unverified, Mr. Sibrel will acknowledge this and openly discuss the leading possibilities as a cautionary benediction. Be sure to visit his site atand subscribe to his Youtube Channel.