the sum of a life

When Thomas and I went into Hobbs' house for the first time, I was overwhelmed by a sense of futility. In this tiny little home was everything Hobbs collected over his life, and when he was gone, nobody appeared to want it. It made me sad to see the keys hanging by the door, the bed still made (well, unmade), and the shoes in the closet. On the one hand I felt bad for intruding into his life. But on the other hand I wondered who would care about his things if we didn't. How pitiful to end this way.

As I think about Hobbs, I think about how the Bible talks about the vanity of seeking fame or riches or wisdom. All generations pass away and are forgotten. It is best for man to eat and drink and enjoy his labor because these are gifts from God.

Now every time I go into Hobbs' house I want to remember the importance of enjoying each moment. While I hope one or two more generations remember me, ultimately I will meet the same end. Better to be satisfied each moment that I have been given. Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Hobbs.

The front bedroom.

One of the things that stands out to me is that there are no photos hanging anywhere in the house. I hope that we find some when we clean it out to tell more of Hobbs' story.

The back bedroom.

Hobbs' closet. (don't worry...we are checking the pockets for treasure.)

Not sure how the Spanish matador fits in. The fireplace is fake with plastic bricks.

The wood beams in the kitchen are also plastic. From looking through Hobbs' house so far, we've learned that he enjoyed building, but the appearance was more important than the quality.

We've also learned that he really liked lights and fans. This one is especially unique.

A nice combination of modern fan and classic chandelier.

Tomorrow we start the clean out. I'm eager to see what else we will learn about Mr. Hobbs.