A Renter's Life

Although there is a great allure to owning a home, renting just makes much more sense at this stage in my life.  I can certainly see some of the financial benefits to owning but given I have no idea of what or where my life will be in the next year, let along the next five years - it's hard to justify it.

I know many in the same situation.

This renter's mentality and life has become infused in the identity of so many of us. Renting has affected how we engage not only the places we live but how we live - in some ways, we are reluctant to own anything.As renters, we don't have to take care of maintaining the places we live. We can neglect the issues that as homeowner, we would see as costing much more if it was delayed or fixed improperly. We deflect responsibility of looking out for others and our literal neighbors, even in the simplest of things - cleaning, changing a light bulb, shoveling the walk, etc..

Simultaneously, we are drawn to the sexiness of engagement, commitment, and investment. Yet when that means actually putting down roots and doing the hard work of not only knowing an area, community, and people but also allowing them to know us - we waver.  We proclaim:

'I'm just here for a season.'

'I'm just too busy.'

'I'm just...'

'I'm just...'

'I'm just...'

This renters life is beautiful because it asks us only to think of ourselves. To think only of what we want. To look only to the short term, to forsake the future for this very instant.  But to own, means to think further out, to project our actions onto a situation and see it's long term effects and influence on not only our own lives but those we both directly and indirectly come into contact with.

Of course, the point is not that we need to buy a house.

One of the first stories we are told of humanity as it entered the created order, was one of God placing us here to cultivate the world.  Or better we are invited, compelled even - to labor, to work, and to serve this good world and everything in it that the Divine has created.  This invitation was not to think of this place as some temporary holding cell prior to finally finding our permanent home elsewhere, rather to engage and create so that all might flourish.

From the very beginning God invites us not to rent but to own.

We can look to the first of creation and see that in some ways they were like us. They were also transient. They were a tribal people required to move and adapt as the seasons changed.  When we look to tribal cultures we see a deep connection to the land and to one another - there is an understanding and balance of what is needed for all to not only survive but to thrive.

As transients in a renters culture, this invitation from the Divine must ring ever louder - to fully own where we are.  Our time in a place will always be limited and we are invited to live fully in the present with eyes to our impact on all the tomorrows that follow.  To seek balance so that all of creation can thrive.

Embodying this might be as simple as cleaning, shoveling, or actually meeting and engaging the neighbor across the street with the car on blocks their yard.  Some days it will be easy, others it will not; but may we all own this together.