Back To The Basics
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things…Acts 15:28
One of the shared assumptions among keen observers of our current global pandemic is that crises only reveal and accelerate conditions that were already present. In other words, crises show you what was already happening--it just causes what was already happening to happen faster. The legendary investor Warren Buffett put it this way: "When the tide comes in, you find out who was skinny dipping." That assumption is extremely helpful. It keeps you from misinterpreting signs and overreacting to events. No matter how bad things get, I have to keep reminding myself that some of what is going on was already going on. Just faster.
This is the perspective that informs a profile I recently read in the New York Times about fashion designer Scott Sternberg (you can read the article here). The article looks at the amazing success of Sternberg's company, a success that has occurred despite the collapse of the fashion industry. Back in April, sales of global fashion plummeted by 80%, the biggest plunge ever. Since then, scores of companies have filed for bankruptcy, including legendary names like Neiman Marcus, Barneys, JC Pennys, and J. Crew. However, in the last year, Sternberg's company has made more money than it has in the last two years.
The reason? His company sells sweatpants!
Somewhere along the line, many of those companies forgot about making clothes that people are supposed to wear. They forgot about the basics.
One of the salutary effects of this pandemic is that it has forced governments, companies, families and individuals to get back to the basics. For the first time in a long time, the lines at supermarkets are longer than the lines at Starbucks.
In a pandemic, I can live without a double mocha latte. But I need that toilet paper.
One of my mentors used to say, "some things are nice, but they are not necessary." And this pandemic has reminded us of what is necessary. When this pandemic is over, I hope all of us maintain that point of view.
This preference for what is necessary was the logic behind a decision that was made during the first crisis of the early church. The crisis is recorded in Acts 15, and centered around the question of what was required to be a Christian. All of the early believers were Jewish. When the message of Christianity began to spread beyond its origins and many non-Jewish persons began to accept the faith, a crisis emerged.
Should non-Jews have to act like Jews to be accepted? What Jewish practices would they have to adopt?
A conference was called, and a decision was made. They decided that non-Jews could be accepted as Christians as long as they professed faith in Jesus Christ and committed to a few "necessary things," including guarding the morality of marriage. These early decision-makers understood that in order to be successful and effective, you must hone in on the basics. Some things would be nice. But they are not necessary.
As we move toward the end of this year, let's recommit ourselves to the basics. Let's work on prayer; reading our Bibles; saving money; cooking; being kind to our family members; staying in touch with our friends; talking walks, and simply learning how to enjoy our own company.
You can always use a good pair of sweatpants.