We have so many things
we cannot count them all.
(We’ve added virtual
to piles of actual…)
We’ve had to rent more space–
or buy another house
just to store all our things.
And then we find, of course,
our houses are too small;
we tear them down so all
our stuff, our toys, the things
we bought to sooth our soul
will not have to be thrown
away. (Because our own
city, village, or town
is surrounded by things
in stinking, seeping hills
of trash, garbage, the frills
we thought were essentials.)
Our hell is filled with things.
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, May 9, 2012
“Man and nature belong together in their created glory – in their tragedy and in their salvation.” – Paul Tillich quote on monument in Tillich Park, New Harmony, Indiana.
Paul JohannesTillich’s gravestone in the Paul TillichPark, New Harmony, Indiana
Inscription on Paul Tillich’s gravestone reads:
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
– Psalm 1: 3
Views from the Edge 
you are so right. Remember George Carlin’s bit about ‘stuff’? I loved that too. How much stuff we have, and how little it seems, and how we have to get more. I see it in myself. It is like a disease.
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Geroge Carlin’s routine was so funny and hard-hitting. Thanks for reminding me.
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I recently saw a link to results of a study of the 10 most addictive drugs. it is supposed to be shocking that alcohol and tobacco were reasonably high on the list – but I think many of us know that anyway. Your post makes me think what they missed was shopping for “stuff” – that should be at number 1.
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Definitely number one.
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Growing up on the ND farm, our garbage heap consisted mostly of old tin cans and some glass jars. Not sure where the well used enamel ware cooking pots went after being patched with one too many Mendits, but there was very little thrown away. We sure did have a large auction sale after my father died Of course one house fire took care of a lot of accumulated stuff, though there was much there that had value, such as things handmade by my grandfather, rugs hand-loomed by my grandmother unused yet, and I could go on. but that is the past.
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I learn a lot from folks who have sold their homes and moved into small quarters in retirement complexes or who are now in care centers. For the most part, they have learned that the only “stuff” that matters are personal to them: family photographs and things that have little or no monetary value but have memories attached to them. Thanks for sharing.
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