as we've been on our travels, one of the things we've enjoyed doing is going through "antique malls" where collectors rent small spaces within a large warehouse sort of building where they display things they want to sell . much of what we see are small knickknacks and household goods, such as dishes and stemware, that were once treasures in someone's home. i often think about the former owners of these things. what were their lives like? how would they feel if they could see the things they loved displayed for sell in such a place?
during our lives, we collect so many things. in our own home, we have many sets of dishes that we love to use. we have crystal stemware for special occasions. we have beautiful objects that we delight in. we have furniture that has special meaning for us and that we have enjoyed using through our years together. when we are gone, little of it will find a place in our children's homes. most of the things we have delighted in will either be sold in an estate sale or wind up in an antique mall somewhere. no one who sees what we have collected during our lives will know our history or the special meaning these objects held for us. the detritus of our existence will be dispersed for someone else's enjoyment or profit, and our lives will be but memories to those who knew us.
this is the common experience of all of us. our worldly possessions will pass from us at some point, perhaps when we are forced to move into smaller living quarters or into a care facility because of the infirmities of old age, perhaps when we pass from this existence. the joys and cares of our lives will disappear with these objects, and it will be as if we had not existed, except in others' memories and in the good and bad we have done during our lifetimes. we hope that our lives will be cherished by those we have touched during our time on this earth, but our bodies will disintegrate and return to the earth from which we came. the saying, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" is so true, and it is the ultimate end that all of us have in common. the objects we loved will take on different meanings than what they meant to us. our association with them will be forgotten.
may we remember that what is important is the good that we do, not how much we possess. in the end, those possessions become meaningless, except to those who knew us most intimately. may we cherish the memories that are associated with the things that we love, while releasing ourselves from attachment to them. may we distinguish between what is essential and what is not. may we not cling to or crave that which is not essential. may we know that in the end, only lovingkindness and compassion are truly important. shalom.
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