January 6 –Simplicity
Heather Tricola
Read: 1 Timothy 6:8-9
One
of my favorite places to be is Interfaith Sanctuary, a homeless shelter that
accepts all sorts of people...drunken, disorderly, and destitute...no questions
asked, no requirements made. Here, I can hang out with my friend Bob, a
sweet and kind gentleman in his 60's who is always up for a good conversation.
His life lacks the clutter of yard work, mounds of laundry, and the
rising price of gasoline. Bob once told me that he feels called to live
at Interfaith Sanctuary, with so many people to love and minister to.
One
of our NWYM queries asks of us, "Are you free from the burden of
unnecessary possessions? Do you refuse to let the prevailing culture and
media dictate your needs and values?" I think of the allure of
camping, where I can spend all morning just sitting by the campfire. When
I am in my house, I could spend all morning sitting next to my
fireplace, but I find that I can't just sit still when there's vacuuming to be
done, the cat box needs emptied, toys are strewn about... And here is
where the "burden of unnecessary possessions" starts to take over our
lives, where we have to go on vacation, away from our possessions, in order to
relax. Possessions can truly be a burden when they take up so much of our time
and space, making peace fleeting.
Sometimes
I feel like I have been brainwashed by American culture, where we our
encouraged to do our patriotic duty and consume things. If my income
increases, perhaps I should spend more on helping people rather than on getting
more stuff. Maybe I can take a lesson from Bob: all of his worldly possessions
fit in bunk #23, surrounded by 80 other men...and he has found peace.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to
realize that my time, talents, and resources are not my own, and to give my
best to meet the needs of others, in your name.
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