I’m not a hoarder!
Calm down. (And read on…)
I’m not talking about pathological hoarders or psychological disorders. I’m talking about the hoarding tendencies of normal people like you and me.
I think we are all hoarders of something, although that something might not be a tangible item that can fill closets or create teetering piles.
Why might we hoard things?
It could be that we are selfish and want to accumulate as much as we can of something. More likely, we are operating out of a desire to create security. We are afraid that (something we think we need) is scarce, therefore we must conserve it carefully lest we run out of it. We dread the possibility that we won’t have enough when we need it. Having an ample supply of whatever it is gives us a sense of security.
In a land ravaged by war it may be necessary to hoard food or money in a safe place so the enemy will not take it. The typical definition of hoarding makes sense in that scenario:
– to accumulate valuables, food, or similar items in a hidden or carefully guarded place to preserve or keep for future use.
I propose a slightly different definition:
– to hold onto something because it gives us a sense of security or allays the fear that we might run out of it and therefore prove inadequate or insufficient.
It’s all about security
I think the bottom line here is security. When we hoard something it is because we somehow think if only we have enough of it everything will work out OK. In ancient times cities stockpiled food and water so they could withstand a siege. In a similar way, you and I carefully conserve things we think are vital to our continued wellbeing and success.
Things normal people hoard
- Things I might need someday
- Food or basic supplies
- Sentimental items
- Money
- Information
- Time
- Attention
- Personal energy
- Space
- Alone time
- Love
At first glance you might not consider yourself a hoarder of any of these, but before you dismiss the idea, ask yourself these questions:
- What do I have way more of than I need right now? (Such as a three-month supply of TP.)
- What am I most protective of or most reluctant to use?
- What do I most struggle to give away freely?
- What do I get anxious about when I imagine myself not having it?
Identifying our hoarding tendencies leads to an opportunity for growth.
First of all, we need to wrestle with where we are basing our security. Do we trust God to provide or don’t we? Do we believe God’s will for us is good all the time or do we doubt it? When the fears whisper we can’t afford to let something go, we can remind ourselves that our security is not based on what we have but on who God is. He will never run out of whatever we need.
Secondly, we can practice intentional generosity. Whatever it is we tend to hoard, we can choose to give freely when the occasion arises. Watch what happens when we choose to be generous with what we once feared to use up.
How can you practice random acts of generosity today?
