Is it ok to prosper

I recently read in the USA Today that prosperous folks are down playing their vacations because they don't want to appear insensitive. While I can appreciate not rubbing one's abundance in the face of someone else who is struggling, I wonder if struggling financially is becoming the "in" thing? Are we developing a culture that frowns on prosperity? I really appreciate how the current economic down turn is encouraging many of us to evaluate what is really important. I hear about how more and more people are simplifying their lives. I know that my husband and I continue to stock of what is important to us as a result of the current events.

But, have we robbed ourselves permission to be prosperous? I had an interesting experience last night. Again, the USA Today had an article about the number of people without medical insurance in our country. It was followed up by an article about the number of people who have let their dental care lapse because of lack of funds. I had two reactions. The first was guilt for having the ability to take good care of my teeth. Case in point, I had just had them cleaned that day. All of a sudden, I felt that my continued prosperity was somehow betraying the folks who are struggling. Somehow I would make it better for them by joining them. Then I got scared that I too was going to experience an economic down turn.

I know that if I feel this way, there must be others who do as well. This is the time more than ever to say yes to our abundance. We don't cultivate abundance to make it difficult on others, rather we say yes to abundance as a witness to others. I heard a commentary on CBS Sunday Morning this past week where the speaker shared how our fear is contributing to the financial picture more than anything. We have no confidence so we hoard what we do have. Now, he was not suggesting that we go out and spend foolishly and uncensored. Hopefully those days are over. But, we do need to start focusing on what is working and the abundance we do have in our lives right now. We also need to be bold and confident enough to claim our abundance even in the face of what others are experiencing. In fact, we must do this especially because of what is going on around us.

Edwene Gaines recently said that she refused to participate in a recession. What if we all claimed that? Right now-affirm with me-I refuse to participate in a recession. Give yourself permission to prosper and know that as you do, you have more to share with others. Along with sharing your wealth, you can demonstrate for others that God's abundance is as plentiful for everyone today as it was a year ago, 10 years ago, since the beginning of time.

Let's say yes to prosperity. Let's say yes to abundance in the form of fulfilling, prospering work, good medical care, a safe, lovely place to live in and enough to eat for everyone. Let's do our part by cultivating that in our own lives and holding the light for others to experience abundance as well.