4a. Your “Stuff” is Not a Part of You

4a.
I chastised her roughly (verbally only) andshe cried. I immediately
felt deeply guilty and I hugged her and told her it was okay. I still
regret that moment and I wish I could take it back. It would have been
enough for me to tell her once, kindly, that she should not do that
again. Instead I made my beautiful child cry because of a meaningless
possession. I don't ever want to do that again. One moment of
happiness with my child is more precious to me than a thousand stupid
headphones.
I want to divorce myself as much as possible from the desire for
needless possessions.
When I was a bicycle messenger in San Franciscomany years ago, I had a
colleague, Jennie, who could pack all her possessions in a pair of
bicycle saddlebags. Anything that wouldn't fit in the bags, she'd give
away. She had a small flat in the Mission district, and when later she
was moving to a little place up on 2nd Avenue, she called me and a few
friends over to help. It turned out she called us not to help her
pack, but so she could give away to us whatever possessions she had
accumulated that wouldn't fit in her saddlebags. I had another
messenger friend, Ben, who lived in a small travel van. He was a
kayaker and sailor. When not working, Ben spent much of his time on
the sea or the bay. Interestingly, Jennie and Ben were both
non-Muslims, yet they livedmore simply than any Muslim I have known.
I can't live that simply, or I'm not willing to, but I do envy those
who can. They have discovered somethingdeep and true about the nature
of the world. Life is not about stuff that costs too much, takes up
space, wears out, breaks, and contributes nothing to the world.
Rather, life is about experiences, family, learning, worshiping, and
leaving a legacy of compassion and love. All those things last beyond
our lifetimes, and beyond the veil of this life.
May Allah help us to live simply, and to be generous,and to value
'ibadah, family and love more than "stuff"./

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