Now – it’s the little things

Yesterday, I posted about when life gets too big. Life can get overwhelming. And while I hated talking about things that get too big for us, I do find it interesting about the many little things in my life. What I mean, my life is made of a lot of little things that help me connect, help me remember, and help me reflect.

So what are these things … as I look around me … what are these little things I collect, or just seem to collect around me? Let me start with the obvious.

BOOKS …

Ever since third grade, when I was too much to handle for my teacher, I had the privilege (the punishment?) to be sent to the library every day after lunch, mostly for the rest of the day. I think she did it for I had finished all my work and I was distracting as she tried to help the other 9 year olds. Today, ADHD is diagnosable and I probably would have kept the pharmacy in business. But then, my Ritalin was published works. Ever since, I have spent way too much on books.

Modern times … audio books, e-books, Apple iBooks, pdfs and more. I love ordering and getting Easton Press books and other leather collectables. I think my son’s inheritance is on my shelves.

The weirdness – I have probably given 80% of them away. I am more selective in commentaries, less likely to keep book of the month stuff, and more likely to ask, “Will I read this again?” so the multiple pallets of books I used to have are now weaned.

I have a few rare ones … a 1700 John Bunyan book, an early 1800 Hebrew Bible, Spurgon’s Gems, early hymnals, and more.

Maybe I should’ve been a librarian.

ROCKS …

I try to get a rock from every new trail, new spot I venture out to on a hike. Grand Canyon, Old Rag, Yellowstone, Vasquez Rock, Big Bend. I got sand from the Great Sand Dunes, melted ice from snow at Badlands, some tiny rubber grains from AT&T Stadium, a sliver of wood from a broken board walk in Congaree, a pebble from the National Park in DC.

Yeah, Yeah, I shouldn’t take something from the woods – but oh, well.

I keep them all in an antique bread bowl in my living room. I even have a jar of just the rocks I got from my first real long road trip with my wife – Badland, Tetons, Yellowstone, Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mount, Pikes Peak and more. Rocks. I even have a rock from the Berlin Wall and Valley of Elam (didn’t go there, but I do regularly go to eBay.) Rocks. They’re my jam.

OTHER STUFF …

I have Calvin & Hobbes books.
Scores of journals that have my sermons I hand wrote.
Old phones.
Old Media players (mini-disc, walkman, iPod, 8-track)
Vinyl LPs – old and new.
Christmas Tree ornaments. (mostly Peanuts now)
Items from Israel.
Fridge magnets from National Parks.
And so on.

Why? Why the compulsion? Why the inward need to connect this way?

Some say in early days, there were hunters and gatherers. Maybe I have a blend – I hunt for something – a new rock, a unique journal – and then I gather them. ((Personal note … I don’t hunt with guns … no problems with it, just don’t.))

When I am finally gone, these things will be boxed, stored, forgotten about. And then eventually, lost or disposed of. Until then, I hunt – I collect.

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The challenge – store up treasure … not here … there.

I don’t want to say collecting things is bad, but if that is the place in my heart that is most important – I am missing the point.

So God, make my heart like Yours. May my heart’s desire be for You. And my my real treasure be there, waiting for me.