What's Holding On To You?
Reflections on possessions
“What you possess, possesses you.”
These words of wisdom spoken gently by a monk several years ago have remained with me through many different discernments.
The word “possessions” tends to make me think of material things: clothes, furniture, a car. Though possessed by me, these things require my attention and resources. There’s a tradeoff in owning material things - they provide me certain benefits, but not for free. I have to spend time and money and mental energy maintaining them, which means that as much I possess them, I also need to think about how they possess me.
Having just moved house, I’m trying to be really intentional about the material things I allow to make demands on me. Do I want to move this box of stuff again? Do I want to sort through it? File it? Clean it? Store it in my limited space?
It’s not always easy, but it’s easier to ask these questions about material things than immaterial ones.
What am I storing up in my mind? My soul? What’s just clutter in my interior world, and what deserves to be cared for? What am I spending my time on? What I am giving my mental and emotional energy to?
Am I giving resentment or jealousy a large amount of room?
Am I spending a lot of energy on things over which I have no control?
Am I devoting mental effort to things that are not actually mine to care for (be they good or bad)?
Being a good steward of the unique life God has given us isn’t only about our material possessions, though of course that’s important. It’s also about discerning what has a hold on us, and whether we allow it to continue to do so in light of our well-discerned priorities.
What we possess, possesses us. It’s worth some meditation.