overload.

I have a love-hate relationship with material items and technology.  It is a relationship that has really been blossoming lately, and in the most annoying and negative way.  Today I took a trip to Best Buy because my laptop power cord was broken, and also my iPod went on the fritz. In addition, my parents' car recently cost them a hefty price in the shop, my Molly Belle did the same to me last month and is in need of more repair, we have two other crashed computers currently in our home, and its really starting to drive me crazy. Last night I almost had a freak out. Sad, right? It made me wonder...when the hell did I become so attached to these things?

There is so much blessing in having a car and a computer and a cell phone; I can get to places I need to be, I can contact people in a number of ways, and you know, blog and stuff. But when does it become too much?

My mom asked me today, "What do you think God wants to teach us in all this?" I think that He has really been using this to show me how much value I have put into material objects.  I had never really considered myself a "materialistic" person, but then I think about situations such as the time I dropped my cell phone in the toilet and how panicked I was for the following 48 hours until I received a replacement. Things like that.

In this modern age, we have been introduced to so much brilliance, so much magic. We can hold the internet in a device that fits in the plam of our hand.  We have more methods of contacting people than ever before.  We can play, edit, learn, research, communicate and more all in a matter of seconds. It is really a fascinating time, but what happens when one of these things breaks down? What do we do when the computer crashes? What do we do when we lose service on our phone? We are rendered essentially disabled.  We feel helpless, naked.  Technology is a blessing and a curse. It is bittersweet. 

I am making a decision here and now to not let myself become so dependent on the things made by man. To not let my possessions control me and my attitude. There are people in this world who wonder what they are going to eat for their next meal. There are people who are grateful just to have a roof over their heads.  I am not saying that I am not grateful for what has been provided me, but I have put too much value into the things of this world. I have depended too much on the things bought with money.  But look how easily they break, are taken away.

I realized that I completely forgot to post for Make-a-Goal Monday. I think the break has thrown me off schedule. But this Tuesday I am tackling the task of humility and gratefulness for the things that matter most.  This doesn't mean that I am boycotting my iPod or anything like that, but I am choosing to let go of such silly and fleeting objects. It is a matter of the heart.

Who needs to reinvest their value?