The Collectors

   I want to talk about an observation I’ve made about our culture. I’ve even been a victim of this way of thinking at times. In our society, we’ve become collectors more than anything else. That might be a puzzling statement, but let me explain exactly what I mean over the next few minutes.

   First, we collect material things that we don’t even use. Some are things we physically hold while others are digital items. The ways we use them are useless, however. We want the biggest house and the most cars. It’s common for us to have more space than we know what to do with and have vehicles that are rarely, if ever, used. Then there has been the emergence of digital music. Piracy has become more common. I’ve met several people who brag about the fact that they have literally collected weeks worth of music. They call themselves music lovers. Are they really, though? Most of them have only listened to about 5% of what is on their computer, so how much do they really love music? Is it the music they love or simply the collection? Now, let’s examine the fact that they got all of the music for free. If you love something, you want it to continue. Getting free music does absolutely nothing to help the artist continue with their career. Books can be the same way. With the emergence of free kindle books, we’ve entered a place where supposed book lovers are proud of their 2,000+ collection of e-books that they have on their kindle. What does this really mean, though. Wow! You downloaded a free book and let it sit on your kindle for all of eternity while never reading or reviewing it. How does that mean you love books or support any author anywhere? Movies are the same way. Here’s my point. We’ve become collectors of things that we don’t even like. We’re a society that thinks if you have more of something you must be better. If I have more books, I must read more. If I have a bigger house, I must have more money. If I have three cars, then I must be doing all right. Do any of these things mean anything, though? Does a person who reads two books a week and only downloads two books not love books more than someone who downloads 200 and reads none? Can a person who has a decent sized house instead of a massive one not be happier and have more money? Where has this obsession with collecting things that we don’t even care about come from? Is it an image or a flawed part of our psychology and the culture we’ve been raised in?

   Secondly, I want to talk about people. Yes, we collect people. Some are so proud that they have so many friends. They have tons of Facebook friends and a mountain of contacts in their phone. They like all types of things and get tons of them in return. Here’s the thing, though. These same people rarely spend any time with a single soul. They collect their so-called “friends” while never knowing the true meaning of what a friend is. Then there are relationships, or what some people call them. As a man, I’ve seen this a lot in my lifetime. Many men like to brag about the number of women they have been with. Now, most of it is all lies, but that’s not the point. We think a number defines the quality of mate we are. Somehow more people defines how desirable we are. The people who remember a lover as a number are the scum of this earth. Don’t collect people. You won’t have friends, love, or respect. We’re put here to have quality relationships and not dozens of meaningless ones.

   Finally, we’re religious collectors. We count the number of times we attend church, how much we pray, and what good deeds we’ve committed this week. This collection of right and wrongs leaves us empty and purposeless. Being a good person isn’t about making yourself feel better. It’s about who you are. It’s about doing something out of the kindness of your heart for another because that’s truly your desire. No feeling or reward is ever required. A relationship with God isn’t about how much you talk to Him, but instead about the quality of conversation you have with Him. Is it a ritual or something that means something every single time? Is a church building a way to say I’m a good person, or is it where you desire to be? You can’t collect good deeds or salvation points. Trying to do so only negates every kind act because in the process of collecting mental snapshots of how great of a person you are, you’ve lost everything about what kindness is all about.

   In conclusion, I don’t want to be in a culture full of collectors. We should only collect the things we love and only have what we plan to use. Whether it’s possessions, people, or God, remember to manage all of it responsibly. We’re only here for so long, so stop concentrating on the quantity in your life, and find the quality that makes your life every bit as wonderful as it should be.