Common Goods
Imagine not having to worry about all that stuff you have accumulated over the years.
Having stuff can really be a hassle. It takes up space, so you need to have more space just to keep it.
As much trouble as having stuff causes, we would be hard pressed to give it all up.
All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. - Acts 2:44-45
In the early days of the church, the community of the faithful lived together and shared all they had. And all they had was all they needed.
While it may be difficult for us to imagine what that style of living was like, we might just find ourselves inching in that direction as we settle in to life in our senior years.
We might move to a community where we don't own the apartment or rooms we live in. We might have our meals with others, people who are not from our household or family.
We might even have to hand over all our money for the ability to live this way, and we would do that willingly, knowing we would be taken care of, should we get sick or have special needs.
It is interesting how much of what we believe we need to be happy we are willing to give up when we focus on just staying alive.
What the early church community had that we don't have is that confidence that others in the community would continue to care for us when we can no longer care for ourselves. Without that confidence, we become our own insurance, our own pension plans, building up resources, storing them up for life so we may continue to enjoy the time we have, however long that is.
No wonder we struggle.
When we come together to celebrate our common belief, if would be great if we could also celebrate our common goods, those things we share ownership of and those things we do together.
Both are goods and both require utility to be of any value to anyone.
What good is anything if it is locked away?
So, what is the lesson from today's reading?
I think I need to clean out my space before I answer that.
More to come...
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