Sell it all

I'm planning on making a big move in May and as such I've begun preparing to sell most if not all of my stuff. I've already made $300 selling my books on amazon (less the $95 spent on shipping). I want to get rid of everything. Everything! Sell Sell Sell! Now, life doesn't happen in a vacuum and the Jesus Moment of the week was me deciding to stay in Rensselaer for the next two semester (and not move to Lafayette and save $200-$300 a month). I just couldn't bring myself to benefit myself personally at the cost of hurting others (through my polluting). I wasn't sure about the decision until today's readings: Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11 & Luke 12:13-21.

"Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot" Imagine that you woke up one morning and you discovered you had no birth-certificate, no driver's license, no proof you own your home. No-thing that identifies you as you. Who are you? What is your identity? Are we merely the sum of our possessions or are we something more? Are we the sum of our retirement accounts or do we have something inherently human that makes us.. us?

It's hard to make such a claim in a society that values materials, fame, unreasoned pleasure (see Cicero), or wealth. Everywhere around us we are constantly told that the reason we do things is to get better things. What would happen if no one could own anything anymore. How would we define our society and identity?