Just a few days ago I was reflecting again about what I truly need to “have” as I consider residence alternatives for the future and this reminded me of a radio interview by Charito Calvachi-Mateyko for WLCH 91.3 FM in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. where she asked my thoughts about relinquishments.
Question: When we speak of relinquishments, are we saying that we will relinquish worldly things?
It means that we learn to live with things we really need, whatever our needs might be. As Peace Pilgrim said, "material things have to be brought to their proper place. They are here to be used, to be used well; that’s why they exist. But when things have fulfilled their purpose, we can then give them away, perhaps to someone who needs them even more.” Otherwise, things possess us.
Let’s speak of another type of possessiveness. Peace said, "When we think we possess people we have the tendency to direct their lives, which leads to extreme disharmony. Only when we realize that people must live according to their own internal motivations, only when we acknowledge they direct their lives do we discover that we are able to live in harmony with them.” Here we are speaking of a true respect for others. Each of us is solely responsible for our own life. As the great Mexican leader Benito Juárez said wisely, "Respect for the rights of others is Peace.”
More about relinquishments in my next note.