I’m in full Seven-Swing now.  This week, we focused on possessions.  Jason and I have moved multiple times over the last five years and before every move, I’ve made many a trips to Goodwill.  In addition, I read an inspiring book last year called Organized Simplicity.  Part of the book involved going through every inch of the house and de-cluttering.  All that to say, I wondered:  would I have anything to give away since I just did this??As I worked through the material this week, I continued to have the same feelings as the two previous weeks.  Convictions and confusion.  Here are three examples:

• It’s not too difficult to come up with possessions to give away that I don’t use anymore or don’t like.  But what if I were to give up my favorite necklace?  Or favorite pair of shoes?  In fact, I’m not sure that I’ve ever given away one of my favorite treasured possessions to someone.
• Jen mentions that 16,000 parents will bury their starved children.  TODAY.  On the flip side, here in America, we save, save, save for retirement.  Is retirement even Biblical?  What if we all took some of the money we were saving and instead saved a life?
• What if I were to give my possessions to someone I knew?  Would this motivate me to give away some of my nicer things?

At the end of the week, I came up with my 49 items.  Did I give away my favorite necklace?  No.  But because I wanted to donate to a local organization that supports single moms, I was a little more lenient in giving away things I probably would have held back otherwise.I believe what Jesus says in Matthew 6:21:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In some ways this is a relief.  (Oh, these possessions really aren’t that important!).  And in other ways, it’s a reminder of how far off base my heart can be.  (Did I really just spend three hours fixated on how to purchase the next best thing?)In conclusion, I’m still ruminating over something Jen said in her video.  She talked about what life would look like if she worked harder at creating a house of love versus a house of beauty.  On that note, I can’t help but to imagine:  what if I worked harder at serving others; specifically women whom have been betrayed, my family, my friends, single moms…versus storing up these treasures here on earth?Do your possessions steer your heart?  Do you find yourself focusing on the things of this world versus eternity?  If the answer is yes, thanks for being honest.  And this isn’t about a guilt trip.  Rather think of this as a perspective shift and reminder about what is most important here on earth.