One of our early stops was at the Gruyere castle and neighboring town.
Have you ever heard of Gruyere cheese?
The Gruyere family ruled over a beautiful lush valley and surrounding area for 500 years, building a family fortune, castle, and powerbase. However, Michal, one of the descendants who eventually ruled, was not content with what he had. He borrowed money from neighboring aristocrats and merchants to finance expansive ventures and lavish spending habits. He went heavily into debt and failed to repay his creditors.
Finally, the creditors, many headquartered in Bern, joined together to collect their due.
Organizing a raid against Michal, they stormed his castle and took all of his valuables and treasures, stripping Michal of his prestige, remaining resources, and ability to rule. Michal lost his castle and his kingdom, and his family’s dynasty ended.
The Gruyere family ruled over a beautiful lush valley and surrounding area for 500 years, building a family fortune, castle, and powerbase. However, Michal, one of the descendants who eventually ruled, was not content with what he had. He borrowed money from neighboring aristocrats and merchants to finance expansive ventures and lavish spending habits. He went heavily into debt and failed to repay his creditors.
Finally, the creditors, many headquartered in Bern, joined together to collect their due.
Organizing a raid against Michal, they stormed his castle and took all of his valuables and treasures, stripping Michal of his prestige, remaining resources, and ability to rule. Michal lost his castle and his kingdom, and his family’s dynasty ended.
Backside of Gruyere Castle
The castle sits on a hill with a beautiful view.
While we walked through the grounds I remembered the Biblical verse, “Be content with what you have.”
Michal was not too smart to squander away 500 years of family success in the span of a few greedy years.
In jest, I told my children, “If you don’t want to lose your castle, don’t go into debt!”
Debt can have a supportive role to play at times when managed correctly, held to a minimum, and used for purposes that enable the debt to be paid back. But in this age, when taking on debt has been taken very lightly in many cases, I’m doing my best to teach my children the evils of debt when incurred for selfish purposes.
In jest, I told my children, “If you don’t want to lose your castle, don’t go into debt!”
Debt can have a supportive role to play at times when managed correctly, held to a minimum, and used for purposes that enable the debt to be paid back. But in this age, when taking on debt has been taken very lightly in many cases, I’m doing my best to teach my children the evils of debt when incurred for selfish purposes.
Gratitude for what one has, however modest, can spare many a year of suffering for getting in deeper than one is able to climb out of.
My children chuckled and said, "Yeah, dad." They've heard this message before!
It is enriching to understand that the treasures of Truth and Love are the greatest riches of all. When one makes the pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and sound decision-making a priority, and stays constantly grateful for what one has, it's much less tempting to take on debt that can't be repaid. Wisdom steers us clear and helps us find spiritual solutions that keep us free of enslavement to the world. Then we can avoid the fate of Michal and preserve the hard work that's been done.
It is enriching to understand that the treasures of Truth and Love are the greatest riches of all. When one makes the pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and sound decision-making a priority, and stays constantly grateful for what one has, it's much less tempting to take on debt that can't be repaid. Wisdom steers us clear and helps us find spiritual solutions that keep us free of enslavement to the world. Then we can avoid the fate of Michal and preserve the hard work that's been done.
Gruyere cheese at a local factory
4 comments:
Beautiful scenery and wise advise. I am currently too far in debt for thinking I could renovate an old hotel in a very poor area of Spokane and possibly improve the life style there. Well...I'm still struggling and praying about the solution to that!
Thanks for the beautiful thoughts and scenery.
Miriam
HI Evan,
I agree that debt is a bad things, but what do we do if we have already worked ourself into debt? What do we do if it has happened more than once? Can we still go to God and find a resolution to the problem? Is it possible to get out of debt and stay out of debt? From a human perspective I think it is possible, but I think it will take a long time. The guilt of allowing it to happen makes me feel awful.
Oh yes, it certainly is possible to get out of debt and stay out of debt. People are in debt for different reasons, but the most helpful truth to stay out of debt is probably the fact that the riches of having peace of mind that comes from living debt free, simplicity, modesty, humility, gratitude, contentment, and their kin keep us from buying things we don't need, enable us to live modestly with few things, if need be, and still be very happy. These qualities, cultivated, also lead to supply that pays off debt and demonstrate a stream of income where we don't have to worry about where the next dollar comes from.
Counter whatever qualities of human ego that led into debt with their opposite spiritual qualities that keep you out of debt.
Hope that helps...
Thanks for sharing all this, Evan. Came across a gift plaque with these words on it, and bought it for our family display shelf.
"Happiness is wanting what you have"
It helps me to "dig deeper" whenever I'm tempted to buy something or invest in something that is probably too costly - and maybe not needed at all! It works most of the time - I think.....
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