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  • UNESCO

It is in giving away that we receive

October 25, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 8 Comments

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

St Francis of Assisi, Italy

To truly own the most important things in life, you must shed yourself of those which are taking up too much space. To be free, you must unshackle yourself of your worldly possessions.

Before I started travelling full time, I cleansed myself of most of the things I owned.

There was no deeper philosophy to the act – it was more an act of necessity because I no longer had my own home to store all my junk. But, nonetheless, it was a cathartic experience that left me feeling free and unburdened.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

The old winter jackets I hadn’t worn for years, gone.

The stereo I had no need for on the road, gone.

My collection of teenage mutant ninja turtle collector coins… well, they might be worth something one day! They stayed in storage.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

Many months later, while sightseeing in Italy at the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi, it occurred to me that he might have been on to something. Even 800 years ago, well before anyone could imagine the consumer society we’ve become, he saw the perils in materialism.

St Francis shunned the trappings of belongings and embraced a frugal life. He encouraged others to do the same, albeit in a more passive way than today’s self-help gurus.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

I felt free when I got rid of my belongings. Weight was lifted from my shoulders and bonds untied from ankles.

I had nothing physical holding me back and nothing material to be concerned about. I was able to live in the present, rather than be concerned by what I had collected in the past or what I needed to accumulate for the future. It was all about the now.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

Visiting Assisi, Italy

The story of St Francis of Assisi says that he wasn’t always that way. He was apparently the son a wealthy businessman and, in his younger years, he lived the life you might expect of someone of that upbringing.

Fast chariots, loose maidens… maybe that kind of thing. But then it all turned around. He saw the light… and the lighter path.

St Francis is probably most famously known as the patron saint of animals and in his hometown you can see plenty of images of that connection. But it’s his rejection of materialism that interests me the most.

He spent time begging with beggars and was inspired to devote himself to a life of poverty. He started to preach his message and, according to the history books, within a year he had eleven followers (so a bit like me and my blog!) but over the years his support base grew.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

After he died, construction began in Assisi on the Basilica of St Francis. Strangely, it’s a large and grand building that doesn’t really fit with the teachings of the saint. But that’s religion for you, I suppose.

Still, it’s one of the most impressive churches in Italy and is an important site in any Christian pilgrimage. You can see it from kilometres away, across much of Umbria, with its distinctive style connected with the hillside.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

In some ways, the whole city is a shrine to St Francis. Like his teachings, it is simple – even if some of the buildings have an unusual majesty in their scale. It doesn’t feel excessive, though. It feels like right.

World Heritage Site in Assisi, Italy

“For it is in giving that we receive,” St Francis is famously quoted as saying.

In the context of today that has never been more true – but I think it could also be interpreted as ‘giving away’ not just ‘giving’. Life is not judged by what you have but what you gain. The possessions you treasure the most in your life will not be the material ones, but those more ethereal.

The best thing is that those more intangible belongings are often easier to obtain… you just need to make some room for them.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Forrest |

    May 31, 2012 at 10:57 pm

    Reply

    Great post. I was astounded by Assisi, the man and the place. Yes, I have given away everything I owned TWICE in my life. I was left with wondering if I had owned them or if they had owned me. Now, the only possession I care about is the boxers I have on.
    See ya in Porto?

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 1, 2012 at 6:48 am

      Reply

      What a great point – do the possessions own you?
      And, yes, hopefully see you in Porto!

  2. Amie |

    June 1, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Reply

    Hi there, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your blog posts. Mark Colvin tweeted about you months ago and I added you to my blog reader on a whim. I think you’re a great writer and I enjoy your perspective. Keep up the good work!

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 6, 2012 at 3:16 am

      Reply

      Thanks Amie. It’s lovely to have you along for the adventures!

  3. Umbria on the Blog |

    June 5, 2012 at 1:35 am

    Reply

    Thanks for such a thoughtful and thought-provoking post about one of my favorite towns in Umbria!

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 6, 2012 at 3:18 am

      Reply

      My pleasure. It’s a beautiful city but it’s also nice to think about some of the deeper issues of its history.

  4. Candice Michelle |

    June 5, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Reply

    Francis lived in a cave in the mountains of Assisi and spent his time in prayer and meditation for two years. Some kind people gave him food, but very often he had to starve.

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 6, 2012 at 3:19 am

      Reply

      He definitely put his money where his mouth was (or put his ‘not money’ where his mouth was, as it may be…)

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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