"On Things"

thing:  n. a material object without life or consciousness; an inanimate object; one's clothes, furniture, luggage, or possessions collectively; stuff

The sturdy, wooden dresser is part of a bedroom set passed on to me as a child of 5 by my parents when they purchased a new set upon moving into the "new house."  67 years later the chiffonier, as it was called, is put to daily use, storing articles of clothing.

Ever a collector and a "saver," the top drawer was filled with my treasures.  A small shoe box was filled with napkins from every event ever attended from weddings to social gatherings and meals at restaurants.  Napkins were often personalized, but if they weren't, I wrote the date and the place on them as I tucked them away.  They held a journal, a diary of my life.  

Another collection included was that of pencils.  Inscribed with a business or company name, they were distributed for advertisement purposes.  None of them was ever sharpened or used--they were saved.

Completing the important things in my life was a stash of Dairy Queen spoons.  Why I felt they were important, I'm not sure, but they had the trademark curl on the end of the handle, and after a Sunday evening after-church treat I was compelled to wash it and place it in my drawer along with the others.

They were just "things," but they mattered to me at that point in my life.  Left behind when I married, I suspect my Mother casually disposed of them.

Several years ago, circumstances came into my life which resulted in the downsizing of my life.  It was then I realized how little was needed to live life as I let go of many of the material items I possessed.  It was a huge step for one who was a saver and a collector, but it turned out to be one of the most freeing experiences I have ever had.  

Consider, if you will, all of the time, energy, and money we put into our "things."  We collect and protect them, insure, display, and flaunt them, categorize and organize them. Often a great deal of our life is spent caring for them, trying to extend their life.  (I have a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup which falls under that description.)

Some hoard their "things;" others sell them for a profit.  Then there are those who compare their "things" with those of their neighbors, friends, or family, attempting to be the one who received the best deal upon purchase or the one with the superior product.  In days gone by this was called "Keeping up with the Joneses."  

Many families have become divided, split to shreds when the estate of a deceased family member was being settled and dispersed.  The source of disagreement can range from a memento to an heirloom, a piece of property or money.  Relationships are irreparably damaged and sacrificed--all for the sake of being in possession of  "things" deemed valuable.

It is not unreasonable to suggest that often we don't own the "things."  Rather, the  "things" own us.

And yet at the end, no one ever has or ever will take any "thing" with him/her when they leave this earth.  It's kind of like "The Care and Feeding of a Pet Rock."  No matter how much you put into it, nothing is going to change the outcome.  

Perhaps this is where an evaluation of priorities comes in.  People matter; spiritual health and well-being matter; the things that money cannot buy matter.  Those are the priceless "things," the "things" worth having.


"Take care!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."