The Estate of Your Spirit

August 28, 2011

Dear Friends,

One of the things that Carol and I enjoy doing in Sedona is going to estate sales. Because of the large senior population in Sedona, there is an estate sale here almost every weekend.

From a strictly practical standpoint, Carol and I save a lot of money by going to these sales. There is usually something at these sales that we really need, and more often than not, that item is either brand new or in pristine condition. We have found everything from a large patio set, to a bee-proof hummingbird feeder, to a chiminea . . . plus lots of standard—but useful—household items.

You can’t help but feel like you are “in the flow” when something you intended to buy at a retail outlet shows up at an estate sale at a fraction of the cost. But that’s not what this message is about.

Attending these sales is fun, yes, but it can also be a bittersweet experience. It is quite obvious that the owners of these estates have had to severely downsize. Some have moved into assisted living centers. Some have moved into nursing facilities. But most have left this planet altogether. Although family members have removed all of the really personal items—such as framed family photos—so much remains behind, it often feels like the former residents have just stepped outside for a quick walk around the block.

There is a popular saying that goes, “You can’t take it with you.” And the truth of that statement is glaringly apparent when you attend an estate sale. However—and this is the point I am getting to—just because you can’t take it with you, is no reason to refrain from acquiring it in the first place.

It’s true that most of us tend to accumulate too much “stuff” throughout our lives. I still remember George Carlin’s hilarious comedy routine about our “stuff.” And yes, too much “stuff” can become a burden, and it can be financially irresponsible, too. Some people, in fact, cross the line from collecting into hoarding, and that’s a very real problem. But that’s not what I mainly see when I attend these estate sales.

By and large, what is usually on display at these sales is artwork of all kinds, and exotic items acquired in far-off places. There are beautiful paintings, unique statuettes, and creatively fashioned furniture and musical instruments. There are masks from Africa, glass vases from Italy, and tapestries from China.

What I see when I look at these things is not just a bunch of “stuff.” What I see is a record of what that person’s Divine Inner Spirit experienced in its time here on Earth. What I sense is that person’s Spirit saying, “Look at all the interesting places I visited while I was here! Look at the beauty I was able to see, acquire, and enjoy on a daily basis!”

It’s easy to look at all the things that someone collects, and draw the conclusion that this person was overly materialistic. But you know what? As the popular singer/songwriter called Sting once sang, “We are Spirits in the material world!” And I, for one, believe that the material world is a source of great joy to the Spirit within.

As an individual expression of what is sometimes called, “The Great Creator,” your Spirit is in this life to create, and to appreciate creativity in all of its various forms. When I see a man who has a great love for his classic car, for example, I don’t see a man obsessed with a material object. I see the Spirit of that man appreciating a beautiful sculpture that has been formed out of metal . . . a sculpture that moves . . . and a sculpture that can take you to places on this planet you have never been to before. I see the Spirit of that man enjoying the experience of being alive and in this physical world.

So, dear friends, can you accumulate too much “stuff” in life. You bet. Can you become too attached to some of that “stuff?” Certainly. It almost goes without saying that it is very important for you to not let your possessions possess you. And it is wise to keep a close eye on that potential issue, and clear out those things that you don’t really need, or no longer appreciate. But, that said, don’t be too hard on yourself about what you choose to hold on to . . . especially if it is mostly cherished artwork or treasured souvenirs from your wonderful trip to planet Earth.

Steven

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC