Becoming Dudley Dursley: Baconator #MNBHP

I want more bacon.”

CoS

Dudley Dursley, in his early years, is the epitome of gluttony. He wants more presents, more games, more of his favorite foods and treats, more, more, more. To the point where he has his bedroom so stuffed with stuff that he has to pack the excess into another bedroom. All the while, everything Harry owns is in the cupboard under the stairs. He doesn’t even have a proper bed, enough food, or fitting clothing.

The saddest thing of all is most of us—myself included—have this Dudley Dursley inside of us. We have stuff upon stuff and we’re still seeking more to jam into our overfilled closets. Evidence: How many families can actually park their cars in their garage? How many families rent storage facilities? How many houses are cluttered with all the things we “can’t” get rid of atop all the things we “have” to have? How many of us overeat even when we are not hungry?

I’m not saying it is wrong to have stuff (or to enjoy food). The problem is the “give me more, give me more, give me more” mentality. When our huge pile of stuff isn’t big enough, then we have big problems. Perhaps we could even say we have become pig-like, as Dudley was.

So how do we overcome this Dudley raging inside of us? Brace yourself. We’ve got to look at our over-packed, over-storaged, overfed lives and say: No more. Not until I’ve given this pile of stuff—most of which I’m not using—to people like Harry who would use it. And I’m not going to eat myself to death, overspending on food. Instead I’m going to send the money I save by packing a brown-bag lunch to organizations that are feeding the starving in other nations. I’m going to cut back on that extra mocha latte a day and send the money to organizations that are digging wells to provide clean water to people who can’t just pick up a bottle of Zephyrhills. I’m going to stop being a Baconater and start being a Bacon-giver. I’m not going to “need” more, I’m going to “give” more.

 CHALLENGE:

Evaluate your life and your heart. What are you obsessed with having more and more and more of? So much so that it blinds you to the real needs of others like Harry? Figure out what that thing or things are. Make a list and tackle them one by one. Say “no more” for a while so that others can finally say, “I have enough.”

What’s your Baconater? Share your answer with us using #MNBHP.

The fridge had been emptied of all Dudley’s favorite things — fizzy drinks and cakes, chocolate bars and burgers — and filled instead with fruit and vegetables and the sorts of things that Uncle Vernon called “rabbit food.”

GoF

Next Week: Becoming Harry Potter: Friend of House-Elves