Sermons everywhere!

Riding the blue line train of the CTA between the Loop and Ohare, at almost every stop there is a recorded announcement concerning train etiquette. One announcement says: "Please move your belongings from the seat next to you so other passengers may be seated."

I picked up my backpack from the seat next to me and held it in my lap even though there were plenty of empty seats.

Then I wondered how often our belongings take   up other people 's space in the world? Do our belongings keep other people from getting close to us? Are our belongings crowding other people out of our lives?

Well, you get the point.