Using it or losing it is God's plan

I recently asked my husband to fill our birdfeeders. He answered, "I can't, the old bird seeds had bugs in them and I threw them away last fall." I was surprised and less than happy with that response, because I had just purchased a new shepherd's hook, on which to hang more feeders. I was eagerly anticipating watching the birds dine. I also thought we had seed left from last year. However, the response prompted me to recall a coined phrase, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it."

I realized if we had served the seeds during the winter, rather than squirrel them away, they would have been used. But by storing them they were lost.

Then, like on a movie screen, the parable of the rich fool flashed across my mind. "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' Then he said, 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods and I'll have plenty of good things laid up for many years." Then God said to him, 'You fool! Tonight your life will be taken from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' (Luke 12).

The point of that parable was that man should be rich toward God rather than greedily storing up excessive goods for himself. But the rich man's failure to use and share the grain and instead saving it for himself -- then dying before deriving benefit or joy from it -- stuck most in my consciousness.

I pondered the stuff people save, only to see it rust, yellow with age, attract bugs, spoil, rot, or erode in another fashion. Although I agree with people's desire to be prudent in financial affairs and moderately frugal, genuine confidence and security is found only through faith in God.

There are people who, while hoarding possessions, lived like paupers and often died without experiencing the use and enjoyment of their goods. Anything in life could be stockpiled in excess and then lost.

I considered the packed state of my closets. Each year it seemed they became smaller and more crowded. But I reasoned I would eventually wear the unneeded clothing, especially since it was wasteful to get rid of it. Of course, they were never worn and ultimately the clothing became outdated, discolored, too large or small, or impractical in other ways. After finally realizing my dilemma of having little closet space and too many unworn garments, I decided to donate them or give them to someone else to wear. Nothing was gained by my keeping them for a future time. I could choose to use them, lose them -- or allow someone else to enjoy them.

My mother often declared that an unoccupied house deteriorated much quicker than one in which people lived. Although I never understood how that could be, I have since found it to be true -- another example of "if you don't use it, you'll lose it."

Everyone's heard this phrase used in connection with one's body. People know if they don't exercise, they'll experience muscle deterioration, undesired weight gain, blood clots, high blood pressure, stiff and weak joints and a multitude of other illnesses.

So it is with all of life. God made everything to be used. Absorbing that truth gave me much security knowing I need never fear the loss of God's gifts and my possessions -- because everything was made for a purpose. And when things were gone, God would supply other resources to fill my needs. But if I don't use what I have, I'll lose it!

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral Parish.