Free From the Trappings of Life

The trappings of life.... trappings is defined by Dictionary.com as: 'articles of equipment or dress, especially of an ornamental character.'

I think 'trapping' is apropos, because these 'ornamental' things can certainly trap us.  For many of us, we are truly slaves to the trappings of life.  We become accidental slaves to the things we work to acquire.  

It's a First World Problem.  But it's a problem.

My friend Jenni once asked me, after hearing me comment that something was a 'First World Problem', what that phrase meant.  She said she'd heard it many times, but wasn't exactly sure what it meant.

I explained that we, as beneficiaries of a privileged life, live in a 'first world' country.  Some, who live in underdeveloped countries, would be appalled at the things we fret about... missing a manicure appointment because you're on vacation in the Caribbean? Definitely a 'first world problem'.  

First world problems are the things we are fortunate to be dealing with instead of actual life and death situations.

First world stuff.   The trappings of life feel very 'first world-ish' to me.

In 2021, when we made the decision to sell our farm and most of our earthly treasures (trappings), the hardest part was parting with the stuff that we had worked hard to purchase.  Stuff that we (mostly) enjoyed.  

We had a large farmhouse.  We had to - as we raised seven children there.  As the kids grew up and left home, I had turned the empty bedrooms in guest rooms, offices, a workout room (ha!) or whatever other theme came to mind. 

One of my favorite rooms in the house was 'The Paris Room'.  A guest room that was a shrine to our 20th anniversary trip to France.  I curated the room with things that reminded me of our trip.  Photos, art, furniture, flowers, even a lovely pillow with the word 'Amour' stitched in pearls.  It wasn't exactly magazine-worthy, but it was special to me.

I would stand in the doorway of that room, enjoying the way it made me feel.  Usually I didn't even step inside, for fear of disturbing this special room.  Secretly, I hated when guests would actually use the room because I didn't want it messed up. 

When it came time to sell our 'stuff', I felt a bit physically ill over the idea of dismantling the Paris Room.  I would stand there, looking at that room, wishing I could pack it all up and fit it in the RV.  But that wasn't going to happen.  So I put on my big-girl pants and began moving the beloved items to the garage for our moving sale.  

That's the day I realized that I had become emotionally attached to stuff.  Trappings.  I was addicted.  I needed to get over it. Luke 12:15 says, "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

With each item that I removed, I started to feel less and less sick about it.  I suddenly realized I was feeling lighter - less encumbered.  

As strangers would arrive at our sale, I watched as their eyes lit up with delight at the treasure they had found.  I felt a sense of relief.  I was happy to be watching my stuff find a new home with a stranger who seemed as equally excited to be yoked with the trappings of life as I had been.

Now that I am free(er) from the stuff, I wrestle with a bit of shame over it.  How did I let my love of 'stuff' (i.e. the white, down comforter and pink, crisp, cotton sheets) become more important that the comfort of a guest in our home??  How did I become so attached to my stuff?

Living in an RV has a way of breaking you of that.  Quickly.  

There's just not much room for 'ornamental' stuff.  Even if I did fill my tiny space with 'pretties' I would just have to pack them up every 10-14 days to keep things from getting damaged as we travel, which adds time and stress - neither of which I am any longer willing to spend on frivolities.  I am learning to love the simple life.  

This minimalistic mind-set has been a big change for me.  Ask my kids.  They referred to me as 'boujee' more than once.  I enjoyed pretty things.  Actually, I still do - but the 'things' are not things you can buy at TJ Maxx.  They are things that occur in nature, organically - like the mountains, the sunsets, the stars, the laughter of a group of children playing nearby, the smiles on the faces of friends we haven't seen in far too long... those are the truly beautiful things.

I'm so glad to be free from the trappings of life.  

Free to see what's truly beautiful.

Be blessed.

(Originally published 7/2021)