Something happened this past weekend that made me pause and think, all over again, of the load of stuff we carry in our lives. Then, we care for every step of the future life we take.
Though I appreciate the minimalist position a little better, at the same time, I find a certain comfort in having my stuff.
I’m just saying, my creature comforts include things I really don’t need but I enjoy their tangibleness, the feeling of memories awash as I look and touch these things, the memories of the past they pull into the present. It’s like smelling a pile of leaves burning and remembering those joyful times of the past. Childhood, youthful and memories of days gone by.
Stuff represents the history of my life!
Take the yellow block of wood pictured. We found it in an apartment not long after we married and had moved to Corpus Christi. It was in a closet next to a slanted piece of plywood attached to an alcove. A drawing table. The block was the stool. Not so comfortable but someone took time to make and use it for a purpose. They chose to paint it yellow. Then they left it! When we moved off, well, we took the block with us.
It’s been a part of every move we’ve made for the past hundred years or so! Well, at least since 1974… From Texas to Alaska and now Washington. We would not dream of discarding it! It’s here for the long haul!
This block of painted wood is part of the history of our life.
What you may not see in the photo, but a closer inspection shows the mark of the sawmill blade that trimmed the excesses. It’s a little slanted on the top. On purpose? Who knows?! On another side, you can see different imperfections and knots. From the top, you can get a hint of the rings that we often use to count the age of a tree.
This block of wood is part and parcel of our history.
I have no idea how old it is, where it was timbered, or who was responsible for its present condition. But I can tell you that when I look at it my mind thinks long and hard about what life would be with this part of history not in my life, or the stage of life it represents.
The life of a traveler must decide what is necessary to lug around, and what needs to be set aside. Smartly packing our luggage, we weigh them at home so they will pass inspection at the airport. Loading up the car we wonder if the springs will hold us secure as we bounce down the rough roads of life. Every extra pound costs more fuel to lug, and with the cost of gas as high as it is, well, traveling lighter means traveling farther. Our last trip was packed with carry-on luggage only in mind. We were moving fast and did not want to deal with a lot of stuff, and the time it takes to manage it.
When we plant our roots into the ground, we often start the collection of stuff to make life more enjoyable and comfortable. But when you are preparing to make a move then all that extra stuff has to be considered for its future usefulness.
Bare Necessities
Ever heard the term “bare necessities”? Pack and carry just what you require to move swiftly into the future.
The writer of Hebrews tells us to let loose the “weight and sin” which so easily pins us down so that we can run more efficiently. Endurance requires a life not lived loaded with stuff. (Hebrews 12:1)
If it obstructs my forward progress, then it is a weight I should gladly toss aside. Equally, if it makes my path cluttered, toss it. Along the way, if I think more of it than the present and future, then it should be ejected.
If it slows me down…
The one thing I’ve learned, when you are loaded with stuff then your mobility is threatened. You worry about what to do with all the stuff, and how to move it with you. When the threat of a storm is rumored, then take only what you need so you can smartly escape the harm.
Nothing else matters!
Take care what you hoard and hang onto just for some temporal reason or season. The day will come when all of this will mean nothing. How much energy did you use to hold onto it? And, how much further down the road could you have gone if only you had trimmed down your stuff to just what’s necessary?
Here’s An Example
When the nuclear meltdown happened at Chernobyl, the populace was told to take only what’s necessary. Pack lightly. You’ll be able to come back and get what you need later on.
Well. That never happened! What they left with is all they had at their new destination! Nothing left behind could be gathered. Ever again.
So. What’s necessary for you?