Tales of Moderation

Connie Kendall has come to Whit's house to help him clean out his garage, and while they work, a question that has been nagging at her for a long time finally spills out. She knows Whit owns Whit's End, the Universal Press Foundation, and a few other businesses besides, so why does a wealthy man live in such an ordinary house? Whit admits he once lived quite extravagantly, but says wisdom and experience taught him to exercise moderation and live simply. Connie is not convinced - if she had the money, she would definitely live like it - so Whit hands her a little book called "Tales of Moderation" and lets its three stories explain his reasons while he goes to make tea.

In the first story, "Now or Later," two neighboring farmers bring in fine harvests. Farmer Bill aims to whoop it up and go for broke, while Farmer Tedd divides his bounty into fourths: one part back to God, one to help the poor, one set aside for lean times, and one for his family to use now. Bill laughs at him all year, dining in fancy restaurants, buying a top-of-the-line truck on credit, and throwing a lavish New Year's party. Then the Blights arrive - Morty, his wife Ethel, and the kids, Mort Jr., Boll, and Weevil - a family of insects who cheerfully announce they have come to destroy the crops, and nothing the farmers try can stop them. When the hard times hit, Tedd still eats roast beef at home and drives his paid-for pickup, while Bill's truck is repossessed and he lives off the charity Tedd gave to the poor the year before. The moral: if you use it all up now, you won't have any later.

In the second story, "Who Owns Who?", a young man sets out to be completely self-sufficient by filling his home with every modern convenience. One morning his toaster speaks up and complains of neglect, and soon the television, electric razor, portable shower massager, and alarm clock are all demanding attention too. The appliances insist that he take care of them or they will stop working, so he polishes, adjusts, brushes, and scrubs until maintaining his possessions swallows up all his time. At last he lays down the law, threatens to cut off their electricity, water, and gas, and storms out to the garage to take a drive - only to be confronted by his car and his garage, who want a word with him too. The moral: the more possessions you own, the more your possessions own you.

The third story, "Can You Journey Through the Eye of the Needle?", retells a story from the Bible. A young prince grows up in the lap of luxury yet turns out genuinely good - faithful, honest, and respectful - and he travels the world asking moral teachers what he must do to gain eternal life. The teachers always assure him that one so good must already have it within his grasp, until he hears of a great teacher in a distant city: Jesus. When the prince asks him his question, Jesus recites the commandments, and the prince replies that he has kept them all since he was a small boy. Then Jesus tells him the one thing he lacks: sell all he possesses, give it to the poor, and come follow him. The words stab like a knife, and the young prince turns and goes away very sad, because he is extremely rich. The moral: lay up your treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Connie admits the reasons are pretty good ones, even if they are obvious - and Whit wagers that most people forget them on a regular basis anyway. He has quietly finished the garage himself while she read, saying she had something more important going on. Connie ends the day thanking God for her wise friend Whit and praying for help to practice moderation, so that nothing will ever hold her back from following wholeheartedly when God calls.