Cover of The Mystery of PicassoPeople are only shadows as they go here and there.
They rush around, but it doesn't mean anything.
They pile up wealth, but they don't know who will get it.
Psalm 39:6
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
I keep thinking about simplicity in my life. Less stuff around me. Less clutter. Less to worry about.
The 1956 documentary film The Mystery of Picasso recorded the famed artist at work as he creates a number of paintings made expressly for the film and then presumably destroyed afterwards so that they can only be seen in the film. This was an act of intent.
Each year countless possessions of great value as well as items of common value are lost through disasters or theft. I have been a victim of a few vehicle break-ins which resulted in the uninsured loss of many thousands of dollars worth of things that belonged to me. Some of the items were of irreplaceable personal value to me.
Even when the losses are covered by insurance, let's face it--someone has to pay for those losses. Life goes on and we all pay more for the want of acquiring more stuff. For what purpose?
Recently on the news there was a report of riots occurring in Orlando, Florida where people were rushing to buy Nike Galaxy Foamposite shoes. How far would these people have gone to have gotten a pair of these shoes? The resale market value for these shoes on places like E-bay was reported to be a thousand or more dollars a pair. Shoes mind you!
Elsewhere in the world, including nations of prosperity, there are people in need of basic items like simple clothing, shelter, or even food. What are we doing? Why do we think we need fashion designer clothes and accessories, expensive jewelry, and high priced electronics? There's a lot of vanity at work here.
In the end what does it all come to? Some of us will be lucky and recoup our investments in our lifetime or even leave something for our heirs to cash in on, but mostly it's just empty acquisition to fill some temporal void in our lives.
There's a lot of junk in my life that I need to get rid of so I don't have to have that distraction pulling me away from what is truly meaningful and valuable.
If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
1 John 3:17-18
Good News Translation (GNT)
Stuff stuffs.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting Lee, I am going to Spain on Friday the area where Piassco was born. I saw his house a few years ago and this brought back memories. I don't like to get rid of many things as there is always a memory attatched to it.
ReplyDeleteHave a peaceful Sunday.
Yvonne.
Suze-- Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- Hope you have a great time in Spain. I know what you mean about not getting rid of things with memories attached.
Lee