A theology of ‘stuff’
Midweek Musings

The Rev. Katherine A. Schofield

In the month of May the forces of the universe align such that we are called to take stock of the “stuff” of life. Between visits home for Mother’s Day, high school and college graduations, and the height of real estate season, May is a prime time to downsize, donate and declutter. Before I became a minister, my primary work experience came from our family business — an auction house. Growing up as a kid underfoot at an auction house I learned a lot. I can identify a bird decoy (and who carved it) at 50 paces, and I can read the mysterious language of silver hallmarks. I’ve also thought a lot about people’s relationships to material possessions. There are three maxims that shape my “theology of stuff”:

Value is in the eye of the beholder. It’s a real mindtrip to watch a carved wooden duck sell for $600,000. I remember shaking my head and thinking “that’s a piece of wood!” But to the purchaser, the Elmer Crowell Blackduck was a prize, an object of reverence, handcrafted by a great American artist. But consider the shadow side of this. What has value to you may not have value to anyone else. The most common complaint I’d hear from customers at the auction house was that no one in that family wanted Great-Aunt Mary’s teacups (or flatware, or glassware, or linens). And you can bet that if no one in the family wants it, even fewer strangers want it at auction. It was of great value to Great-Aunt Mary, but times change and no matter how much she loved them, she can’t do much to alter the whims of fashion and the antiques trade. For better or worse, value is in the eye of the beholder. Buy things that you love because you love them — not because they’re fashionable or because you think someone else will want them when you’re gone.

Too much of a good thing is still too much.
It doesn’t matter if you surround yourself with impressionist masterpieces, designer handbags, or chairs found on the side of the road, if you love “stuff” you have to be careful not to go overboard. The accumulation of items — whether due to sentimental attachment, overconsumption, or avoidance — can profoundly impact mental well-being, relationships, and daily functioning. In many faith traditions, attachment to belongings is seen as a spiritual distraction. Buddhism teaches that the origin of suffering is found in craving and attachment. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth … but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19-21) Decluttering can be a spiritual practice that allows us to focus on what truly matters. Instead of asking, “Does this spark joy?” consider, “Does this item serve me in my walk with God?”
Mindfulness practices can help us become aware of the emotions and thoughts associated with possessions, and empower us to make intentional decisions about what to keep and what to release. By aligning our physical surroundings with our spiritual values, we can cultivate a life of peace, purpose, and fulfillment.

It’s worth more with a story attached. When you’re talking fine art and highend antiques, one thing that really adds value to an item is knowing its story, or provenance. If you can trace who owned it, or put it in the context in which it was created, an item has more value, both on the auction block and to the person who looks at it each day. If you are thinking of passing an item along to a family member or friend, give them the gift of explaining why it’s important to you. Your grandmother’s beloved cookbook, with notes in the margin, that you used to make your first “real Thanksgiving meal” could be just another used book to your niece — unless you help make it sacred through sharing its story. The most precious things we have to give are our stories and wisdom. Allow your possessions to become a vehicle to share your story and leave a meaningful legacy to your loved ones.

Churches are not immune to the accumulation of “stuff.” Three years ago the good people of First Parish Church in Manchester-by- the-Sea looked around and realized — we had a lot of stuff. Generations of accumulated dishware, decorations and half-finished crafts from Christmas Fairs past, and so many books. So a group of devoted, hard-working church members organized our first Fair-by-the-Sea — a yard sale of sorts in conjunction with Manchester’s annual Festival-by-the-Sea in early August. It was so cathartic, freeing, and unifying to work together to clear out underutilized spaces and pass items on to others who could actually use them. The decluttering bug was contagious and the next year church members and friends brought items from their homes to pass along to new owners. As we prepare for our third Fair-by-the-Sea we will host a community event May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. encouraging others to get in the spirit of letting go, clearing space and finding freedom from clutter.

The Rev. Katherine A. Schofield is pastor of First Parish Church in Manchester- by-the-Sea. Midweek Musings is column that rotates among Cape Ann’s clergy.