THE BIBLE IN MY LIFE August 2, 2004 Issue

Back to basics

By Sharon Jeffrey

A lot of us belong to what has loosely been called the "me generation"—identified by a tendency toward self–absorption and a concern to get ahead at almost any cost.

There's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to succeed at a worthy endeavor, but it didn't take me long to learn that the desire for mere material possessions was robbing me of some of life's richest rewards, including opportunities to be helpful to others.

Recently, I discovered how I had fallen into this trap when my mother and I made a local move. After unpacking over 80 boxes at our new home, I felt a little ashamed and embarrassed for all the "stuff" we'd accumulated over the years. Where had it all come from?