How many pairs of socks do I or my children really need? That question confronted me as I read an article in an archaeology magazine that told the story of a young upper-class boy, attending a boarding school in the 1500s, who had only two pairs of socks. His personal tutor at the school had written to his parents asking that they provide a third pair of socks for this lad, since the two pair he had with him had been mended many times and were almost beyond repair. The article went on to describe that socks at the time were hand-knit, and those in the upper-classes of society could afford to have socks that were knit with very fine yarn on very thin needles. They could afford the thinner and more luxurious socks – but only two pair! One can imagine the rough socks that others had to wear.
At that point, I thought about my own sock drawer which definitely has more than two pair of socks in it. There are summer socks and winter socks, ankle socks, over the knee socks, and tights in a variety of colours. I didn’t take time to count, but let’s just say there are more than two pair.
I’m a knitter, so the description of knitting long socks with fine yarn on thin needles caught my eye. I’ve never got on to knitting socks – but I have friends who do. Yet, none of us are knitting socks out of necessity. So I imagined if I had to knit all the socks in my drawer, and what I would do if one of those socks developed a hole, especially if I had only two pair. It would not be tossed away!
It was not that long ago that people did not have access to all that we have today. What we forget is that most of us live in a luxury that only royalty knew in generations past. It is a luxury to have a drawer full of socks, with multiple colours and lengths. A luxury for which I am truly grateful.
Though I have to say that I’ve started mending holes in my socks again after reading the story of the boy with only two pairs of socks. I have been thinking of the people, somewhere in this world, who have put effort into making these socks. Yes, they are machine made, but still they are a gift, from the makers, and a luxury for me to have in my drawer.
Of course, I am machine mending them – thank you to electricity and the mechanics of my sewing machine. And yes, if you are wondering, I do know how to darn a sock. I learned that in the church girls’ group when I was about 9 years old. I could still do it if I had to – stitching around the edge of the hole, then creating a woven pattern to fill the hole. But for now I’ll use my sewing machine.
Yet, socks have become such disposable things in our North American culture. Along with many other things that we just throw out when a hole appears, or it goes out of style, or something new catches our eye. Even those of us with the best intentions of not being caught up in the practices of a disposable society end up throwing out more than we realize. We’ve been shaped by our society.
So how many socks are enough socks? And how many dishes, and shirts, and pots and pans, and…. well, how much is enough? (Notice, I didn’t say books – You can never have enough books. At least that’s what I tell anyone who looks in my office or my home. LOL.) But how much is enough?
My son was sharing with me what he learned in a university course this past semester on “degrowth economics.” We’ve lived in a society that has been based on constant upward growth of markets and economics, a growth that is no longer working to bring everyone out of poverty and provide jobs and security for all, a growth that is harming our environment. What if “enough” rather than “more” became the basic model for the economy?
Once, when Jesus was walking along with his disciples, he pointed to the birds flying in the air, and the lilies growing along the side of the road. He said, “The birds, the lilies… they don’t worry about what they will eat or wear, they don’t strive to have more, and yet they have enough, and they are beautiful as they are. You too are God’s creations; you don’t have to worry and strive for more.” (Matthew 12:22-34) On another occasion, Jesus told his disciples to travel lightly, taking only what they were wearing -- no purse, no bag, no extra sandals, and no extra socks! (Luke 10:1-12)
Enough! It has me thinking. What is enough? What am I striving for that I don’t really need? How does that striving for more take away from my faith and my relationships? And how many pairs of socks do my children actually need?
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