Do We Ever Really Own Anything?

Do We Ever Really Own Anything?

I was thinking about how fun it would be to have a new house.  One that has all the rooms one needs.  One that hasn't been lived in by anyone else.  A place with spaces to create.  Art to hang.  Colors on walls.  One to own for a long time.

As I was thinking about all of that, a new thought began to worm its way into my mind.  A thought that would not float away.  It had to do with ownership.

We love to own things.  A home, a car, furniture, art, jewelry, boats.  When we pay for these things, we believe we own them.  They are ours.  We might have a mortgage, a loan, a credit card to pay for our fine things,  We believe we own them once we take possession.  We enjoy being able to live in our house, drive our car, sit on our furniture, wear our jewelry, study our art, ride on the water in our boat.  Or maybe we have a motorcycle.  Or a pool.  Whatever suits our wants and needs, that is where our money goes.  We enjoy sharing what we own with our family and friends.  Life would be rather meaningless without others to share it with.

Here is the thought that would not leave me.  We never really own anything.  We are given the privilege of use for as long as we choose.  But, things always pass to another generation or to new owners.  The piece of land where my house sets will eventually belong to another person.  And a person after that.  It will pass through many hands.  It is my responsibility to care for it so that those who come after will enjoy all the beauty that others have created.

We are the caretakers of our earth.  We are given the wonderful opportunity to enjoy this planet and all that is on it for a finite amount of time.  While we are here, this earth is in our care.  While she spins in space, she has no control over how we treat her.  She simply continues to give and give and give.  Understanding that nothing is forever helps us value all the good that surrounds us.  Our homes and all our possessions are gifts to be enjoyed for a little while.  But, when we think outside our own space and realize that how we care for this earth will impact future generations, we know that we are to do more than simply enjoy.  We are to become responsible stewards.

Sure, I will continue to use the word own.  I will say that I own this house, this car, these art pieces.  But, I know that this will end for me.  Someone else will love this little piece of land.  This car will eventually end up as metal to be used in another car.  These art pieces will be moved to new locations or pitched in the trash.  And that is all just fine.  It is life moving forward.  It is life being enjoyed for the time we have use of it.

Maybe understanding this gives us a new way of looking at life.  Maybe we can relax and enjoy those things that we have without them owning us.