an un-repentant materialist, because things are signs of what is important

It's Lee-Jackson Day here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the day to commemorate Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Lee has been commemorated in VA since 1889 --first on his birthday (January 19th), then on a dual holiday --Jackson was added to the day in 1904 (b. January 21). Then the Day was merged with Martin Luther King Day --but, that was abolished in 2000. Now this day is celebrated on the Friday before MLK Day --which is this coming Monday --always on the third Monday of January. Gives many in this Commonwealth a four-day weekend....

I understand Lee-Jackson Day. Truly, I understand. But, I think this holiday is a bad sign of what the South lost...

And it's very, very windy here. The noise woke me up early. And the weather guy says it's cold --not much above 30 with the wind chill factor. So when I hear that, I flip to my 'home' page, and I have already switched my weather gadget to Eagle Butte, South Dakota --our new home destination --and this morning it is a warm 15 degrees --yesterday it was 9. Now, THAT'S COLD.

I keep worrying about Itty-Bitty Mr. Witty in that type of cold --like, he will need a jacket and boots to go out to take a leak. Joel is balking at the idea. I think it's common sense....... --and I keep wondering if our car, which will have a garage, will need a warming blanket or some such thing. At the very least, new kinds of fluids and oil? I don't know... yet. I hope not to learn the hard way.

And, we've begun to map out our route --staying south until Omaha, then heading north... Google alerted us to road construction etc., which made the job more interesting....

And we got our closets packed, except those things we will wear for the next two weeks....

And, we will have to move twice, unless the house sells this weekend --trying to decide what goes first and what stays... not as easy as it might sound. Also trying to coordinate with the stuff we are selling at the consignment shop....

And, it's not just about 'stuff' --Simone Weil has a very interesting take on materialism. In an overtly materialist culture, things "show" who you are in so many respects, but the things themselves usually have no other value than monetary --and can easily be exchanged or discarded for things of greater or lesser value. And, yes, we live in an overtly materialist culture. And discarding is usually what we do --through thrift stores and the like.... the stuff 'means' nothing.

--which is an antithesis for an Incarnationalist, if you know what I mean.... because things do matter --things do matter --they are how we come to know what is important, what is not, and all in between --we imbue things with meaning --as signs of all that matters. We need signs --sacraments. They help us remember....

Most of our 'things' are at least second-hand --and we have discovered that they have no real monetary value, most of them are busted/repaired --but the value we have is the stories... and the things have become signs of those stories. So, when we sold our piano earlier this week, we told the stories --to an appreciative buyer who told us she was buying it to teach piano --and we were thrilled. That made our story complete and happy. When we bought the piano, we had been married about three years --we had a mattress and box-spring, a table, two chairs, two cast iron pans and a piano... --we still have the cast iron pans... (all those meals....!!)

--and we know how rich we really are. Especially in the stories....

Praying while reading the stories, the Great Narrative (Psalm 22:24-26)

My praise is of him in the great assembly;
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your heart live for ever!"

I am so deeply grateful for the stories, for the things as the signs of the stories, for the call I have received --blessed are you O Lord our God who brings forth from the earth fruit and meat and all good things to make glad our hearts, and our hearts to be the Body of your Son.

Now --off to pack some more --to care for the signs --a keeper, caretaker, steward of the signs...

--there we are. Amen.