POOR IN SPIRIT

THE MEANING OF THE BEATITUDE, "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT" HAS ELUDED ME BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF INTERPRETATION, BUT CLARIFICATION CAME TO ME AS I WAS PLANTING MY SPRING SEEDS. TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT MEANS TO "THINK CHEAP." IF ONE TEA BAG CAN BE STEEPED TO SERVE TWO, IF IT SAVES MONEY TO PURCHASE SEEDS RATHER THAN STARTED PLANTS FOR A GARDEN, IF LIBRARY BOOKS CAN BE CHECKED OUT FOR FREE IN CONTRAST TO PURCHASING THEM, IF 10 HRS. OF MUSIC AS SATISFYING AS A $100.00 CONCERT TICKET, CAN BE HAD FOR $9.00 FROM GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, IF TAPWATER IS FREE, IF AN OPEN WINDOW SUFFICES AS AIR FRESHENER, IF A DIURNAL SHOWER WASTES WATER, IF $3.00 A POUND OR MORE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE PRICE OF FISH OR MEAT, IF A SLIGHTLY USED VEHICLE ALWAYS SAVES THE BUYER $1,000'S OF DOLLARS OVER A NEW ONE, AND THE BARGAIN IS EVEN GREATER WITH CASH - IF BEING CHEAP (ECONOMICAL) EQUATES WITH COMMON SENSE AND A REFUSAL TO SQUANDER MONEY NEEDLESSLY, THEN WELCOME TO THE WORLD VIEWED THROUGH POVERTY OF SPIRIT. THE POOR IN SPIRIT, BY THE WAY, WILL IRONICALLY, GET RICH. THEY WILL INEVITABLY ACCUMULATE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL WEALTH FROM THEIR WATCHFULNESS, AND 'ABIDE' IN PEACE, AS THE GREEK WORD ORIGINALLY INTENDED. THEIR KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL BE AWARDED TO THE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF CHEAPNESS, I.E. POOR IN SPIRIT, WHO DID NOT WASTE TIME OR TALENTS ON EARTH.