I admire the vows of poverty taken by monks to simplify their lives, but it seems like certain possessions would be difficult to give up altogether. We keep objects with irreplaceable sentimental value on display to remind us of people, places, and events in our past and rekindle the memories of our experiences.
I would more easily part with consumer electronics, I think, than permanently dispose of certain memorabilia, but perhaps detachment from the past benefits the monastic pursuit.
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March 2, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Lana
At various times in my life I’ve had to give up material possessions (from a few to everything,) & I’ve had to give up memorabilia, as well. As a result I’ve learned to be happy w/o needing these things. The monks have a point.
March 6, 2008 at 9:39 am
Jacob
Lana, when you’ve had to give up everything, did that mean storage or donation/disposal? I don’t think I’d mind sending memorabilia into inaccessible yet safe storage, but complete disposal and eradication would be much harder.
March 10, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Sarah
I agree that sometimes sacrificing certain things can be helpful! Especially when we’ve idolized them in our lives. I would also submit that the bedrock of Biblical Christianity, by its very nature and definition, is that it requires us keep certain aspects of “the past” central in our lives. The past is very powerful. And we, as humans, too easily forget things. Memorabilia helps jog our memories into remembering important experiences and sensations. In the OT God specifically directed His people to use inanimate objects to symbolize and remind them of certain aspects about Himself. In fact, all of the OT points us toward God’s redemptive plan for mankind. And now, we as Christians are instructed to continually look back to the cross of Christ as a focal point that powerfully and practically influences our everyday beliefs, thoughts and actions.
March 10, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Sarah
Another thought on “Memorabilia” or the enjoyment of temporal pleasures, check out John Piper’s book “When I Don’t Desire God”. If you go to the following website http://www.gnpcb.org/product/1581346522 and open the link to Chptrs. 10-12 there are some really neat insights into “wielding the world in the fight for joy.” Piper believes, as I do, that all of God’s creation is reflective of Himself. Nature, food, even possessions if viewed in the proper perspective, actually increase our enjoyment of God and draw us closer to Him.
March 10, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Lana
Jacob; It meant donation/disposal. It gets much easier as time goes on, though. My attitude has definitely changed about such things.