Sorry I missed the blog yesterday. My family and I were captivated by the spirit of materialism, trekking many kilometers to Toulon–not to see the cool sites, mind you, but to shop.

And shop we did. God forbid we have sore derrieres; why yes, we MUST buy those dining chair cushions. And the whiff of stinky cheese emanating from our fridge necessitated we buy scented candles–lots of them. Scents like mountain air, grapefruit, cotton, and melon. Now, my home smells like agriculture!

On the way home, I thought about how very tied I am to materialism as an American. When things are stressful, or painful, I reach for money, jump in the car, and buy something. Instead of running to the Giver of all Gifts, I paw after things–little trinket idols that satisfy only a moment. Like the candles I purchased, things will flame awhile, sputter, and burn away.

Reminds me of some verses: “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss;be he himself shall be saved, yet as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Someday He will come in heaven-shaking glory. Someday our lives will be spent. I imagine my trinkets piled high, awaiting the torch of His holiness. I only hope that my infatuation with things lessens each day, that the flames have less and less to lick. I want my work on this earth to be eternal, thing-less. I don’t want to become a thing-chaser, no matter how appealing IKEA is!

I write this while my husband buys kerosene for our new heater. (Few houses in Southern France have central air conditioning OR heat!) The house smells of burning fuel, further reminder that someday His fire will come.

relevantgirl