possessions

My next-door neighbors the Sanfords hosted another garage sale last weekend.

This is a routine occurrence. Frieda Sanford lives off some small, monthly disability pay. So to make ends meet she holds garage sales about every 2 to 3 weeks.

She really is an entrepreneur from the poverty culture. She knows how and where to find really good deals on used junk and re-sell it for profit.

When we first moved in about 4 years ago, Frieda’s youngest son The Tiger asked why we never had garage sales, like having them was a normal part of life.

I don’t know. I guess we use everything we have. Or the things we have aren’t worth selling. Or perhaps I love my stuff too much.

The real lesson here is about possession: the Sanfords do not hold on to anything longer than they need it. Ever.

It works like this: they pick-up some free or cheap junk somewhere, use it for a month or so, then sell it for profit. Or sometimes give it to someone else in need. My favorite example is the time they found a practically brand-new above-ground swimming pool. It sells at Wal-Mart for $250. The Sanford’s found it at a garage sale for $30, set it up in their back yard, invited the neighbors over to swim for a few months, then sold it for $50 at the next garage sale.

Over the last four years the Sanford’s have taught me much about my unhealthy (and ungodly) nature to latch onto and hoard material possessions.

They are true transfer agents. Everything under their roof is always “for sale” or to be given away.

As a secret agent, I’m often asked by Christians how I go about “discipling” people. “I don’t”, is my usual answer. “People disciple me”.

Without being seminarians, having theological degrees, or even high school diplomas, the Sanfords have stumbled upon what I consider to be the true meaning or direction of Jesus’ words, “sell all you have and give to the poor”.

Everything is for sale or to be given. Always.