Further thoughts on "things"

I have a bit more focus now on my prior "rant."

Sometimes I babysit for a Russian family from school. Both parents have a lot of education and have good jobs at countrywide. The father also has two other jobs, one of which is his own consulting business. My point: They have plenty of money. But you would never know it from their house. EVERYTHING in their house looks like it has been bought second hand. They haven't remodeled the old cupboards, or replaced the rickety screen doors, or bought a bunch of furniture (beds are all on the floor) or put up curtains. Their home is decidedly spartan. There is no attempt at making anything match, but then they don't really have much to match. But they don't mind paying me to come help the wife when the husband is away - and they only have two kids, so it isn't a necessity.

I think what I like about this is that there is no temptation for them to get their "identity" from the things around them. It is so tempting to do that. I do it. For example, my perky little plaid green scarf that instantly makes me feel so put together. Even when I change my pony tail from a high on to a low one, it's like the chemistry of my brain changes, and the tone of my thoughts change. I see it in others too. The nice car that gives their ego a boost. Or the fact that the majority of their confidence is coming from the sleek little phone in their hand, or the bud in their ear, or the fashionable shirt. Ahh, the tyranny of things! (Is that Tozer who says that?)

I don't know. I still don't feel like what I'm trying to say is actually being said, but maybe soon it will be.