A recent post to the Jack’s Winning Ways blog started with this bit of lifestyle advice – “The Hoosier way is quite simple. We work hard, and we live within our means.” (Dan Coats)
It seems to me that too many of us live a different lifestyle by “buying stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have”.
I lived in Indianapolis, Indiana (the Hoosier state) for a few years in the early to mid-1970’s. I never really considered myself to be a Hoosier, but I will admit that most of the people that I met there and lived with back then did seem to be honest, hard-working people and less pretentious than those I’ve encountered elsewhere. Of course, times and people change; but, Hoosiers, I suspect, are still much the same way that Coats described them.
There are probably lots of additional characteristics that come to mind when one starts thinking about people who may live like Hoosiers – God fearing, quiet, keep to themselves, family-oriented and other images and words flood into the mind for these idealized people. Unfortunately, there are also words and images that are not flattering that come to mind when one remembers the staunchly conservative nature of the Hoosier state. The word “conservative” has been burdened with way too much political baggage of late.
Yet, taking Coats at his word, the Hoosier way seems to be a good model upon which to base one’s life. If you overlay on top of those principles the basic Christian tenants to love the Lord and to do unto others as you would have them do to you, one would have a great foundation for a successful life.
You don’t have to live in Indiana to live a Hoosier life or to live a Christian life. Choosing to work hard and make good decisions with your money and your life just make good sense. Choosing to love the Lord and treat others as you wish to be treated are also easy decisions to make. Putting the two together is a formula for success and happiness in life.
Be a Christian Hoosier today!
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