“When did we decide that
more and bigger stuff would give us a better life? When was the last time a busy calendar gave anyone more
serenity? Do we really get more joy
from worrying about, rearranging, and dusting our things than we do from
visiting with a friend in an intimate way?”
Janet Luhrs in The Simple Living Guide
On the way home from a
birthday party earlier this afternoon we decided to stop by a relative’s place
whose condo complex was having their annual mega-garage sale for a local
charity. It was “closing time” and
these penny-pinchers, previously molded comfortably into their lawn chairs,
descended on us like desperate snakes on a pack of rotund rats.
“Everything’s half-price,”
was practically being sung as we eyed what leftovers remained on the
giant tables.
“Look at this….” stated our
relative, one hand on some unneeded trinket she planned to buy and another
caressing the object in question: a solid roasting pan. “Feel how heavy it is…And only $2.50. I thought of you when I saw this.”
“Very nice,” I tried to be
diplomatic.
“You should get it. Only $2.50.”
“But I don’t need it,” I
firmly defended myself.
“But it’s only two dollars
and fifty cents!” Her voice betrayed
her kind smile; she was obviously annoyed with me. Why would I NOT want something of such quality that was so
inexpensive? “What a bargain!”
“It’s only a bargain if you need
it.”
Somewhat playfully she
bashed her trinket against me and emitted a nasal “ppp-shawww”. She doesn’t get me.
This same relative shared
with me a few weeks ago that though she would love to have people over for a
fun evening of card-playing she worries so much about her home, what they would
think of it, and whether she would be the “perfect hostess” that she actually
brings herself to a frenzied state of illness and vomiting. And that is just thinking about
making such plans.
How have we allowed
ourselves to become so obsessed with our “stuff” that it takes precedence over
relationships and good times?
Jack Zavada, a Christian
writer, asks us to answer the following questions in order to determine whether
we have a problem with “stuff”. So…go
for it…
• Does your car fit in your garage or
is there too much stuff in the way?
• Do your shoes and clothes fit in one closet, or do they fill up three?
• Do you need to have two yard sales each year?
• Do you have a hard time getting rid of something, even if you haven't used it in five years?
• Do you rent a storage unit for the things that don't fit in your house?
• Is your attic full of boxes but you don't even know what's in them?
• Do your shoes and clothes fit in one closet, or do they fill up three?
• Do you need to have two yard sales each year?
• Do you have a hard time getting rid of something, even if you haven't used it in five years?
• Do you rent a storage unit for the things that don't fit in your house?
• Is your attic full of boxes but you don't even know what's in them?
So…How did you do? Need a garage sale
or two? What about a –box-a-day
clear-up from your home to a local re-sale or charity store?
We (only we because I think my hubby
wanted to be a part of what exactly was being re-homed) spent about an hour
after our yard sale adventure in our own garage chucking some things we haven’t
used in the four years since we have lived here. Some to the dumpster still here from our re-roofing project, and
some set aside for the “free sale” we have a couple of times every year at our
church. There’s a sense of freedom that
comes with letting go…
A freedom I hope you, too, can
experience! So..recycle away…you might
just be able to make a huge bundle of cash by selling a roasting pan for $2.50…just
not to me!
No comments:
Post a Comment