He could hear the sound of his feet pacing, with deep breaths interrupting every few intervals. He was running around the city park, an exercise that he had longed to do. Work as a barber-surgeon apprentice consumes a lot of his time. In fact, he had declined an invitation to a gathering of physicians earlier on that day so that he could stay (longer) in bed, without being pushed by the pressure of a scheduled meeting.
For Jack, running is a time when not only his physical body does work, but his mind also. Memories of his past start playing back in his mind...
He is the only son of a gentleman and a lady who are wealthy citizens. Well, they were not always wealthy, but they had worked hard up their way. And deep inside, Jack feels the security provided by a stable financial supply. The mansion he lived in was not only huge, but also grand. Almost every guest had a good word to say upon entering his house. In his childhood, he doesn't remember a day when there wasn't a servant to carry out his parents' wishes. Balls and celebrations were also very commonplace, with food being bought from the city caterers. Not everyone could afford those, he thought.
But he considered himself never to be a vain man. He seldom dined in the marketplace, simply because it entails spending coins and notes. He also seldom purchased fine clothes for himself. He saved a lot that way.
Yet he had almost no trouble when it comes to giving his possessions away. Of all the prize monies that he won during contests of knowledge and memorisation, a tenth would go first to the temple. So how did that begin? Like this: Back in his younger days, whenever he ran out of coins to spend, he would simply ask his father for more. Or set out to help him out and get a wage in return. His father was very generous, and there was no problem with this method. But Jack realised how he could go overboard, abuse the agreement and keep asking for more supply of money without being responsible in his spending. He thought, when my father runs out of money, who does he ask from? So they made a new agreement where Jack gets 10 coins each week. If he runs out, he has to wait until the next week. If he has extra, then he is free to do whatever he wanted with them. That way it was much easier for Jack to plan giving the first tenth of his given coins.
He thought briefly about those important years in shaping the man he would eventually become. Now as an apprentice who earns about 15,000 coins in a year (a moderate income, but much more compared to the 500-something he had during his childhood), he still prioritises giving, and living below his means. Good stewardship, it was preached. He lives contently with what he has, not comparing with jealousy and covetousness with what he has not. Another thought formed in his mind: it is actually possible that I live life at the brink of my means, spending all I've got - or even live beyond it and simply request more from Father and Mother when I run out - but I have chosen to put these wild desires under control, and my decision is not to live that kind of life.
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