The other day I came across the following adaption of the Apostles Creed. The original creed is a reminder of what it is we believe – the basis of our security and the hope we have for the future. This creed, a little tongue in cheek, does the same – it states what many of us would prefer not to admit – that our basis for security and hope has much more to do with what we can buy and store away. Perhaps like me, you too struggle with the insidious way in which those things I bought have somehow now come to own me and have a far greater influence over the decisions I make, than I like to admit. This week may we find the courage and the strength to find again a far greater creed to live to.

I believe in my income and standard of living,
maker of pleasure on earth.
And in things-I-own and Things-I-want-to-get,
which are conceived by desire for possessions
born of a regular paycheck,
suffered under monthly payments,
then glorified, cherished and admired.
They descend in their value,
but on a future day I’ll acquire some more
ascending in my status, ’til I sit in comfortable retirement,
from whence I shall come to enjoy them all without end.
I believe in my home or apartment, my comfortable automobile,
my vacation with pay, my insurance for life
the satisfaction of my wants
and a bank account ever increasing.
Amen.

(Attributed to R.Vallet, Congregations at the Crossroads.)