Life is more about people and less about things. If we look at what fills our home or the vehicle we drive, what tends to stand out are the items or features that adorn the “necessary”. As an American, I am an experienced and trained consumer. I find myself sometimes lost in the rat race of having the most up to date fashion or going to Target for one item but somehow leaving spending $60 on pointless stuff that I thought in the moment that I really needed.
When we are on our death bed, who will we call? Will we ask to see the legacy we leave in our bank accounts or the rewards and accolades that we have completed over the years?
We will ask for our loved ones to draw near - the very people we have shared life with.
I think for Day 3, we need to re-value and esteem relationships and human connection. Life is more about people and less about the things that take up space in our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that there are some precious items that hold dear and sentimental value that we should keep and celebrate about. A memory that reminded me of how beautiful and valuable human connection is was this New Year’s. While ringing in the New Year, a gift was imparted into me. My 2-year old nephew embraced me with such an overwhelming flow of love and care that I have never experienced before from him. As the clock ticked midnight into 2017, he jumped into my arms - holding me so tight without any reserve of his love. It began to dawn on me that this is what life is about. Giving attention and bringing emphasis to what really matters. All of those uninterrupted and focused moments of choosing to put the phone, iPad, laptop, Netflix, stuff down, and choosing to just connect with my nephew, my husband, my loved ones, the cashier, God, those around me. is what really makes lasting and unforgettable impact. This is what being human is about.
People - our spouse, friends, co-workers, pastors, acquaintances, pedestrians, cashiers, waiters, waitresses - need to bear more value and importance in our lives.
It may seem that in our society that stuff and assets is all we really will leave on this earth, that they have an eternal and lasting effect that makes us feel secure like a home or a car, but people are now; we don’t have forever guaranteed.
On the other hand, stuff will wear and tear, become out-dated, break over time. My husband and I had a few items act up on us today - our dryer decided to malfunction and our Phillips Hue light accidentally shattered. Of course, in the moment of it, we were heated and angry that this stuff was not invincible. But in the moment of frustration it dawned on us, how much of this finite issue was stealing our joy and hope away from those around us. Stealing from our “now” with our family and from each other.
I encourage you today to spend more time with people and less time with stuff. I am not saying to throw all things away, because whatever does hold value, keep it, because these items have meaning to you, and they do matter. I am saying to question yourself when you begin to fill your life with things that are not necessary, putting you in debt, and mooching on your precious time on this beautiful earth.
I encourage you today to invest in the eternal - saying something positive, smiling at a stranger, genuinely engaging with a cashier about their day, serving others without reserve, attentively listening to your friends' stories.
TAKE AWAY:
- Life is about people, so engage with those around you no matter who they are.
- Invest in what is eternal; choose to invest more time and energy towards that.
MEDITATION:
“19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. ”
“30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. ”
DAILY CHALLENGE:
- Make people more important and valuable by simply living in the moment. Give the people around you your full and undivided attention.
- Take some time and reflect on the things that fill your home and commit to doing something different the next time you decide to buy and consume. Ask if it this item is really serving you and others.
- Choose today to love others well. Think of 1 positive thing you typically would not do for someone and DO IT. Comment on your experience!