In South America private homes are protected by high concrete walls with thousands of sharp shards of broken glass embedded in concrete on the wall tops. In Central America private guards armed with machine guns are common at bank entrances, grocery stores, and even outside of seminaries. In New Mexico a store has a sign saying, “Premises protected by owner with a shot gun two days a week. You guess which two.” Surrounding a Connecticut yard was a hedge of poison ivy. Posted signs said, “WARNING: POISION IVY - DANGER.” Dogs are security, too -- a barking alarm with teeth. 

We all have something to protect, even if it’s a shopping cart piled with the plastic bags of homeless wealth. What we own comes to define who we are. This is a reason we’re ready to protect possessions. 

But to whom do you belong? Who possesses you? Your parents? Your spouse? Your children? Your job? Relationships, work and our possessions ground us in this transitory world. Ultimately, whose are you? 

The answer – we belong to God. When we’re done with this world, we leave everything that has defined us, and return to God, our Maker. 

What do we take with us? Nothing physical defines us. What we take with us is love we’ve given, the love we’ve collected, the totality of ourselves, including the pain that we’ve caused, but it’s by love that we’re measured, not possessions. 

Let’s Pray: Dear God, prevent our possessions from possessing us. Teach us that who we are, isn’t what we own, but how we love. Amen. 

Here’s a Thought: Everything is left behind, except love. Love is the treasure.