This idea is a bit intense.

What might it look like for you to downsize your life? How could "downward mobility" replace our culture's sinful insistence on upward mobility? Maybe God is asking you to sell a cherished vehicle and buy one that's less flashy and more fuel-efficient. Maybe, like our pastor friend in Southern California, you're being asked to sell your house and move into a smaller one--or to sell any clothing you haven't worn in the last way and donate the proceeds.

Culling our lives can be painful, but the process helps us center our life on what is important, rather than on what we own. Ultimately, our freedom and grown depend on our willingness to prune branches that are not bearing fruit.