
Another World
Elana imagined a world without money. A world in which she could eat at the Food House, where the daily smells always made her mouth water. She’d savour each bite before letting it fill her groaning stomach. Then she’d wander the market and enjoy loukoumades, her fingers dripping in sweet honey. When her stomach ached from goodness, she’d lie on a cool marble slab at the bathhouse while someone gently eased the knots from her shoulders and stroked her hair.
Elana pushed through the crowds to join the line at the church. Perhaps today they’d have enough soup for everyone.
Money, when you come to think about it, is such an odd invention
Isn’t it just? Even in a barter economy, I think we’d have a much better idea of what things were actually worth, but the way we have things now, prices make absolutely no sense.
It shouldn’t be this way, but it is.
It is indeed. Our local food bank has such long lines at the moment. I’m so glad it’s there, but really wish I lived in a world where it didn’t have to be.
There is too much disparity between those who have and those who don’t, and the gap feels like it growing. There is always a fear, at least for me, that I’ll end up on the wrong side of the chasm. Wonderful story of empathy for one unfortunate soul.
I think there but for the grace of God go all of us, even more so over the last few years. I wish there was an easy way to readjust the balance.
I’ve just finished my breakfast, but there you have me wandering back to the fridge again, Jen! Good one.
I’m glad you could taste it all, Sandra. And I hope your second breakfast was a treat!
Dear Jen,
A heartbreaking story that’s true for too many. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. I wonder if we will ever have a world where this isn’t true.
I imagine if you’re that hungry, your only thoughts are of food.
Yes, it’s something I know I take so much for granted, just to feel full after meals and for hunger to be more habit than need.
Enough reality for one day. Well done, Jen.
Thanks, Bill.
Them and us, a situation brought on by money, or the lack of it
Definitely not the only kind of them-and-us in the world today, but perhaps the most persistent over the centuries since money was invented, Keith
Very well done! Yes, for the power of dreaming to make the miserable feel less out of control, and indeed, we can do better as a world to make sure that there’s enough for everyone. For there is. Enough. For everyone.
Well told. I feel for poor Elana and those in our world like her. There are far too many of them and, as Na’ama commented, it doesn’t have to be this way.
we all dream of utopia
I understand Elana’s world without money, and where everything is free for every one. But also, we all survive in a monetary world.