Luke records Jesus telling a story about a rich man whose land produced abundant crops and he was faced with a choice: give some of it away, or build more barns so he could keep it for himself. He chose the latter, and prepared to sit back, relax, eat, drink, and be merry. But that very night his soul was required of him, and all that stuff he had accumulated would then go to others. Having recently cleaned out my parents' house I am also acutely aware that all the stuff we accumulate is not ours. So we will continue to give away as much as possible so we are not defined by our stuff, and so our stuff does not get in the way of our relationship with God and with other people.
Loving God, we really don't need all the stuff with which we surround ourselves. But some of it brings back good memories, some of it reminds us of when we and our families were younger, and some of it we have kept because we are certain we will use it some day. Help us to be willing to let go of our stuff when it is needed by someone else, or when it begins to separate us from you or from others. Help us remember that all the stuff we have is not ours, but comes from you, and that we must not be wasteful. And when the time comes for our stuff to pass to other generations, may they be both generous with it and respectful of it.......Amen