I learned the secret of simplicity from these 5 perspectives

My sister invested in a VERY expensive, handmade, Turkish rug (from Turkey).

Her biggest challenge was keeping her huge dog off that gorgeous rug with all that dogs will do.

Her husband noticed an abandoned service station that someone was using to sell “Elvis” rugs.  They also advertised that they “cleaned rugs.”

He brought it there and dropped it off, getting his receipt.  When he went back the day they said to, the rug dealer, all his Elvis rugs…and their gorgeous Turkish rug was gone.  Never to be located.

I decided then and there I would lean toward Costco rugs.

What item are we babying on, protecting, and “living for” that could be gone in an instant?

Try this perspective of life:

1. Get a perspective!

   A pair of $30,000 tennis shoes (you read that right) is just begging to be lost, stolen, or chewed up by your dog.

   Do they help you walk better, run faster, or earn major money as an athlete?  Get out from under the pressure of ownership and protecting their value. 

2. Trim down your closet

   Go through your personal closet and decide what you really wear on a day to day basis.  If you haven’t worn it on your body or your feet in a year, you never will.

   Lighten the load.  Keep your top 25 pair of shoes (out of 100) and bless someone else with the rest.

3. Drive something you don’t mind taking to Wal-Mart parking lot.

   People bang into your car.  Buy tougher cars, not trinket cars.

   Drive something you would not emotionally collapse over if you found a nick in the paint.  Relax and go to Wal-Mart.

4. Detach from stuff.

   What if your prize ________ was gone?  Would you be ok?

   My sister’s rug was “gone.”  Actually, the sun came up the next day, her food was good and her bed felt good.  “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of your possessions” (Jesus, Luke 12:15, ESV)

5.  Get on the giving train.

   What could you sell or give away and make someone’s whole life!  

   Could you sell that prized possession and change their entire housing status, transportation status, or educational status?  Do it.

   INVEST IN PEOPLE.  When you die, people will fight over every bit of your stuff and it can’t help anyone.  Call your favorite charity or listen at work to the needs of people.  Make their day.

   There is nothing like taking something you didn’t really need and making an amazing Christmas for a child who would have nothing this year.  

   “Get on the giving train.”

   The end of the year is the perfect time to take a different look at every article you own.

   —Does it add value to my family?

   —Do I use it or just look at it?

   —Am I so attached to it because of what I paid for it?

   —Is it consuming my mental bandwidth to protect it?

   Let it go.  Sell it and bless someone else.  Do it now.  

   The “Elvis” rug dealer awaits your decision.