Buddha was asked: “What have you gained from meditation?” The Buddha replied, “Nothing at all. However”, Buddha said, “let me tell you what I lost : Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death.” There is a lot of debate among Buddhists as to the source of this saying and particularly what Buddha said he lost, if anything.  Other religions have the same problems as we do in Christianity about valid quotes from cross-checked sources.  But there are so many potential sources of this quote that we don’t know if Buddha said it or not or one of his followers.  But the idea is Buddhist. Meditation allows you to let go of things rather than to acquire them.  As that thought about something goes away, so does the earnest want to possess it. You begin to realize that the things inside like integrity, patience and endurance all get larger as we give them more space.

The disciples were given powers as great as Jesus had been given to cast our demons and to heal the sick.  These new powers did not lead to wealth or fame.  In fact, the opposite in many ways. Jesus told them that they had to wear only the shirts on their backs and take nothing with them for their sustenance; not money, not food, no extra clothes.  They were to literally leave EVERYTHING behind them and only have their powers.

The followers of Jesus were told not to acquire anything, to be satisfied with the minimal and to focus on the work. Imagine if we did such a thing.  Would people think we were crazy?  How simple is simple enough?  What counts as hoarding?  What counts as too much? What is a false idol?

Today it is no different than in Jesus’ day. Followers of Jesus are just fine in whatever state they are in to do work for the many.  There is no such thing as needing to get richer or  accumulate more to be effective. We don’t have to have anything but love to serve love. But we should serve Love with all that we have.  And if what we have is getting in the way of serving love, be it true love in any form, then we need to get it out of the way.

Imagine God standing by your side.  Now imagine putting things between you and God.  Everything between you and God or your spiritual journey is an idol. It can be a dream, person, a need, or a thing.  Have you ever seen one of those yard sales that goes all the way down a highway?  Our relationship with God can look like we have so much stuff between us and God, or us and love, or us and peace of mind. We can let go and just serve Love. It is that simple. You can get God’s help to remove it.  You can get your friends to help you remove it, but you are responsible for getting it removed.  You can’t blame who is helping you, so choose your partners in life wisely.

We shouldn’t create false idols.  We should not say, “I will be something when something else happens.” And then cram another thing between you and your spiritual center.  Especially if you know it is probably not going to move on its own.  Sometimes we say, “I’ll move it when this happens”  Nope.  Don’t wait for tomorrow. There are more distractions and more people plus more momentum and energy, just a faster pace of living the longer you wait. 

The work today, to heal the world with love, has so many dimensions and still needs our focus. How many different ways does the world need healing and in what way can we be a part of this healing?  What do we need to serve God – not a thing, truly. And if we do own something, how can it be used to help heal the world?

Think of five of the most important of your possessions.  Write them down if you need to.  There is no wrong list.  Just five things you possess.

Now think about each one. 

What are two ways that you can use that possession or something you value to show love, or to cure dis-ease, or to cure inward turmoil? What if one of those possessions is your cat.  How is your cat helpful towards having peace and love in your home? How is petting them stress relieving?

Maybe one of your possessions is a book.  Can you read it and remember something good about life or strengthen your connection to your spiritual life? To your partner?  Can you have a book club and build community?  But stop and get out a pen or use a pew pencil and fill out your five most prized possessions or values that are important to you.  What do you value?  If was something you depend on to keep you safe or happy or in touch with the Divine, write that.  If it keeps you out of touch with others or keeps you from moving forward in your spiritual life, list that too.  There is no peeking and no one should see your list but you.  Now go:   Just take a minute and list them.

The disciples were told not to take anything with them.  Things can be a distraction. They can make a journey feel more cumbersome. Sometimes we begin to worship this thing of this relationship ever so slightly.  And it has gotten a little bit more and a little bit more important.  Then there is the denial of it – “I don’t have ________–problem.”  If a few of your friends are telling you that you have a problem, or if you know on a gut level this distraction is “problematic,” kick it to the curb.  And idolatry will always leave us lacking.  What billionaire says that “this is enough, and the rest I am going to give away.” Very rare.

Look back on your five things.  Look at each one.  What is the good of that thing? Or in that thing?  Is it doing damage?  Do you put its worth over your job or your relationship? If it is just to prop up your ego, how does that serve Love? It might.  That is between you and your internal spirit. You know that answer down deep.  Does it make us better followers of Jesus?  Does it relate just to our happiness?  If so, how is that happiness used to help heal this world?

For instance, I like humor.  When life has been tough, sometimes turning on something that is humorous is healing for me. It reduces the pain and the depression caused by lupus. So does time with my family.  So I am not saying give up on everything.  But become centered about the meaning you give each gift.  First of all, are you thankful for it?  What are some ways that you can show that you are thankful for it?  How can your whole life say thank you to Love? Can you be a walking ball of gratitude for those five most important things in your life?

Now those things you have on that list that aren’t doing anyone any good.  You know they need to go. It can be something important, but how it in the way of letting your relationships go deeper?  Do you do too much? Is it gossip?  You know what it is. What stands between you and love in this world?  Is it an attitude or a chip on your shoulder?  What is something that won’t give you peace?

Jesus didn’t make a big deal about getting rid of the negative.  Just dust it off of your feet.  “Ta da” and never go back.  Let that go! Brush, brush, brush.  There is still a little dust on my feet.  Dust, dust, dust.  Don’t go back to the source of the dirt.   Just brush it off and walk away You know what it is.  Let that thing go!

So I have given you many queries in this message.

• What is good in your life and how does it serve God/love/peace?
• Are you thankful for the good things in your life, and how does that show?
• What do you need to dust off your feet?
• What is in the way of the relationship between you and your God or spiritual center?