​Sunday August 23, 2015

Six days a week you live under the tyranny of time. Time to get up, get out, go here, go there. But today is different. If you let it be. On this Sabbath day, live lighter. May you be blessed to ascend to the realm of eternal time. May your hours be filled with holiness. Your body weightless. Your soul tethered securely to the Divine.

One of the biggest growth industries in this country are storage units. Air-conditoned and heated cubicles storing gazillions of pieces of junk.

Ridiculous.

In the beginning there was night. No clutter. Then light was created and people could see things. Immediately they began to acquire them. They hoarded, fought for, lived for, and died for worthless junk. Scripture tells us humankind is beset by "begat".

Joseph begat a 2015 Buick, the Buick begat a trailer to tow, the trailer begat a speedboat, the boat begat a set of water skis, the water skis begat a larger motor in the boat, the larger motor begat a bigger trailer, the bigger trailer begat a bigger vehicle, the bigger vehicle begat a bigger expense, the bigger expense begat a family fight.

So why do we covet, beget, and hoard? Because we MUST HAVE it. We CAN"T LIVE WITHOUT it. It will MAKE US HAPPY. 

Really?

When the good Lord comes for you on your final day, He's not asking you if your backyard swing set was bigger and better than your neighbors. God doesn't give two hoots whether the car you drove had leather or cloth seats, a back-up camera, or custom rims. And God most certainly is not squealing with pleasure because you saved that ice cream scoop with a broken handle, those boxes of baby food jars, the bottoms of all your cut off blue jeans, or the pile of paper bags all folded so

neatly.

Get rid of it. All of it.

Listen up. Here are 8 warning signs you're afflicted with junkitis:

1. Unusual discharge - from closets and shelves.

2. Thickening or lumps - under rugs, behind drapes, under beds.

3. Noticeable swelling - of drawers, closets, files, pockets, waistlines.

4. Obvious change of color - in your face, when you learn you just missed a garage sale.

5. Change in parking regularity - you start parking the car in the driveway because the garage is full of junk.

6. A sore on your shin that does not heal - you keep breaking it open stumbling over junk.

7. Unreasonable tenderness - toward shiny automobiles, souvenirs, and silverware sets.

8. Nagging cough or hoarseness - from talking about your possessions, and from yelling at the kids for damaging things.

Maybe you is, or maybe you isn't...suffering from junkitis. But everyone can live a little leaner. De-clutter your posessions and de-clutter your messy mind.

Start now. On this Sabbath day. Live simply and give (away) generously.