Nothing is Permanent; darn it!
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Nothing is permanent except God. I hate the impermanence of this world. Just when things get good, they change. Even the items we purchase are not permanent. Jill and I have owned three homes. We were so proud of each home bought and threw ourselves into making each one our own. Now, the two previous houses are owned by someone else. The home in Waterloo looks different due to a significant renovation. The home we own will one day be lived in by someone else. Owning anything is an illusion.
Many of us have known a hoarder. A person who hoards finds comfort and control in things. For this person, having so many things around them is like a big hug. Further, the idea of parting with an object invokes an intense feeling of loss. However, if one never gets rid of items, they never feel the loss. It is undoubtedly an illusion, but emotions and reality are often at odds.
When we complain about the reality of death and the unfairness of human suffering, we cry out against impermanence. All of us suffer in this life, and our deaths are assured. I read an article about a woman recommending a vegan diet and yoga, believing a proper diet and exercise will give us the ability to live to 120 years of age. Before you commit to strive to live to 120, you must answer the question, “why.” Is putting off death in our best interest? Are there things better and worse than death? Each person’s answer will be different based on whether their life is based on a belief in God and God’s merciful love and eternal commitment to them.
Today, prayerfully consider whether there are items, situations, or people you attempt to hoard. Determine what you value and what hurts to lose. Are there items, conditions, or persons whose loss would devastate you? For example, I deeply love my wife, daughter, son in law, and two grandchildren. Yet, do I have the faith to accept their lives as impermanent? Mourning into despair and mourning with hope is based on our trust in our God “to make all things new.” What Jesus did on the cross was provide permanence amid loss. Trust that God’s love and mercy will bring permanence when we “thy kingdom comes.” Until then, accept impermanence and love in the moment.