today after work i went to the gym.
You know how there's always that random object in your bag/purse/drawer that you never use but is always there?
Like a lip gloss, notepad, or whatever really.
Well every time i shuffle through my gym bag there's these pink headphones.
They are old and i don't use them anymore.
Today however, i realized i forgot my headphones...
i started panicking, frantically searching through my bag.
I checked all hidden pockets, and under everything. It was hopeless.
That's when i looked down and glared directly at my old headphones,
As if they did something to offend me.
I all of the sudden felt really irritated because i knew they felt different on my ears, and weren't as good quality as my other ones.
for a second i even contemplated skipping my workout!
You see it wasn't too long ago that i was working out everyday with those same headphones.
I didn't have any problems. To me, they were as good as gold.
I had started this job at best buy, and don't get me wrong here i love best buy its just, there was so much technology.
Everyday i was introduced to some new gadget, it blew my mind.
All the sudden i wanted the latest in everything... i NEEDED the latest.

My ordinary things were just not good enough anymore... certain things needed to be high def, ipods needed to be updated, my phone gps was nothing compared to having a REAL GPS with ADVANCED LANE GUIDANCE and LIFE TIME TRAFFIC.
It's endless.. the list of things i NEEDED... voice recording pen, mac book pro, new SLR, a Wii, wii fit, digital wireless frame, point &shoot canon, ipad, ihome, iphone, powermat.. and on and on and on...
i was tallying up things in my head that i would buy one at a time.
but lets get back to my point here... my headphones.. and the gym...
i got them out of my bag and my heart felt sad...
sad that i was all of the sudden to good for these perfectly good headphones.
I was a SLAVE TO TECHNOLOGY! CRAAAAAAPPP!!! haha.

i was reminded in a weird way that even though technology can be convenient and helpful,
it has potential to spoil your humility.
i dont want to need things.
i dont want to need money
and i certainly don't want to feel pressure to upgrade what already works.
all i'm saying here is, i dont want to get carried away in things that DONT matter at all.

AND NOTHING I MEAN NOTHING DEFINES ME BUT JESUS.
not my job
not my friends
not my family
and CERTAINLY not my THINGS.

im excited about south africa, to see people who live with the bare minimum, and who truly are the epitome of JOY.

thanks for listening.

- mdp