All of our possessions now sit in boxes. It's amazing how much "stuff" we accumulate without even knowing or trying. A lot of really useless stuff too. We have a box of pez dispensers; it will be difficult to transition into a life without pez. All in all this process is very freeing. Reducing your possessions to a suitcase. Selling your possessions and giving to the poor. We recently saw the movie Into the Wild. A very good film; I really can identify with the sense of freedom that he experienced by throwing off all material ties and just setting off into the horizon. Freedom, peace, contentment.
We are so easily convinced that our lives consist of our possessions and what we possess. Though we would never say we are of course. I love books. I had a whole bookshelf full of books. It literally took me two hours to decide which ones to keep and which ones to sell. Some books I have had for over a decade and I have still to read them. Painfully I scaled it down to three. Three. The truth is I kept them primarily for status and feeling like I was a real "book" person. Wise beyond my years. I still want to read them. I guess the library will have to humble my sense of ownership. The rest of the books now sit in my car to be dropped off at Powells today. Actually it feels good. It feels so good to not own a lot of things. It feels really good to not be owned by a lot of things. Jesus said numerous times, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Beside of the obvious implication that we should be better caring for the poor in this world, I think I really like this treasure in heaven. It's not a sacrifice; it's better. Our desire's are too easy to fulfill. We are robbing ourselves and our poor neighbors. But there is abundant life that is to be had.
"Sell your possessions and give it to the poor. Then come follow Me." -Jesus
