Things

Things.  I am happy to say that today I am no longer a slave to my things.  I have been in the past - before God opened my eyes to other countries, cultures, and peoples, and urged me to start living beyond myself.  It is so very easy to fall in love with worldly things and base our self worth on the number of shiny new things we possess (or, rather, the shiny new things our lenders can repossess).  Here in America, even those who are considered poor usually have safe drinking water, an air conditioned and heated roof over their heads, a new flat screen TV in their living room, cell phones, computers, transportation, education, and food to eat.  Meanwhile, at least 80 percent of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.  Ten dollars a day.  And, it is much less for many of that 80 percent.  These people, these human beings, are forced to make impossible decisions every day of their lives - will I eat today so I'll have the strength to work, or will I feed my children? - which child will I let go in order to be able to care for the others?  This is real.  I have seen their faces.  And, the images haunt me.  It is these images that make America's fascination with new cars, big new houses, the "right" neighborhoods, the "right" schools, the "right" clothes, and the debt that goes along with it so absurd to me.  I know this does not apply to every American.  If this is not how you live, I applaud you, because you are one of the few.  It is very hard to live in this world and not be of it.  Many times as I pull up to my son's preschool in my 1996 Buick Roadmaster station wagon I find myself looking at the other vehicles parked there and feel a twinge of jealousy, or maybe a bit ashamed of my humble mode of transportation.  But, as I am unbuckling my children from their car seats, I look into the eyes of my youngest son and am reminded of all that is good and true - none of which includes a car payment.
A couple of years ago I ran across this prayer, and I have been praying it ever since.

Lord,

May we who have plenty live simply,

so that others may simply live.

Short and sweet, yet it encompasses everything that I want to pass on to my children.  I don't want them to get caught up in the things of this world.  Life is too precious to be wasted in the pursuit of worldly things. 

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal,

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21