Viewpoint | Everything else is just stuff

Glenn Mollette has a few really nice suits in the closet. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than he has hoped to lose ten unwanted pounds so they will fit. Should he sell or give away the suits?

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by Glenn Mollette
Guest Columnist

Glenn Mollette

A few years back my wife’s parents passed and the time came to sell their house. The house was nice and had nice furniture. When the house sold a lot of their belongings ended up on the street for anyone to carry off. Even though there were children and grandchildren, no one had room for most of her parents’ stuff. A number of pieces of furniture were put into use by family members, but so much of went out the door to parts unknown.

Chances are you have an attic, basement, garage or closets filled with stuff. Stuff can be clothes, furniture, collections, memorabilia and more. Where will all this stuff end up? Most likely it will be hauled to a garbage dump or possibly to some non-profit who will make it very profitable. When a non-profit sells your old sofa, table or clothes they come out pretty good because they have nothing invested except some labor and building costs. That makes it very profitable for them.

I am not knocking any non-profits because some do some great charitable work. Some pay their Chief Executive Officers big salaries. You have to make choices as to where you donate. What happens is that so many people become so desperate to get rid of their stuff that they don’t have the time to care about how it is sold or used. The main goal is to clean out the garage or storage building.

We will all experience this on some level. We will be responsible for disposing of someone else’s stuff or someone will dispose of ours. I really don’t want family to have to do that but often we don’t get to choose. What we might consider doing is being proactive today. Clean out one closet, one shelf, one section of an attic and put it where we want. Most likely this could be a dumpster, but it might be to someone who could use it for the time being.

My wife and I bought my dad a jacket for his birthday and he got to wear it about three months before he died. My brother-in-law ended up with the jacket because it was a good fit. He wore it for several years before he died. I think it is satisfying if we can pass on something that someone else can use for a while.

If you have stuff that you have not used or worn in a couple of years then what is the point of it taking up space? I do have a couple of suits I have held on to because, if I can just lose ten pounds, I will be able to wear them again. Sadly, it sure is taking me a long time to lose the ten pounds, but maybe eventually I will.

We can’t take anything with us when our lives end. We came into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. Living in peace with God and man is the best we can do internally and externally. Everything else, is just stuff.

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About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

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You pick 'em | Week 8 Illini Prairie football predictions

How's your Ouija board working? Test your prediction skills for five Illini Prairie Conference football games this week against the best.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's AJ Daly carries the football against visiting St. Joseph-Ogden earlier in the season. This Friday, the Rockets host Illinois Valley Central. The Grey Ghost come to Hicks Field in hopes of leaving with a win and possible IHSA playoff eligibility.

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URBANA - Each week, we’ll highlight the Illini Prairie Conference matchups and invite readers to put their football score prediction skills to the test with the Friday Night Forecast.

Think you can spot the upsets before they happen? Ready to back your hometown team with more than just school spirit? Less reliable than the weatherman, but twice as fun, join us in predicting the Illini Prairie Conference wins and upsets.

Submit your picks for the opening week forecast and see how your calls stack up against fellow Illini Prairie Conference football fans all season long. Drop back by OurSentinel.com Friday mornings to see which teams are predicted to win as they work to qualify for this year's state football playoffs.

This week's Illini Prairie games

St. Joseph-Ogden vs Tinley Park Andrew
Pontiac @ Bloomington Central Catholic
Illinois Valley Central @ Unity
Prairie Central @ Monticello
Paxton-Buckley-Loda @ Rantoul

Illini Prairie Conference Scores

Unity 47, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 6
St. Joseph-Ogden 54, Bloomington Central Catholic 42
Monticello 19, Pontiac 12
Prairie Central 78, Rantoul 22
Illinois Valley Central 51, Elmwood-Brimfield 8

WEEK 7 RESULTS

1. Sentinel ... 5-0
2. Coltrane ... 4-1
2. DoubleJ ... 4-1
2. Best Look Magazine ... 4-1
2. Frank ... 4-1

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TAGS: Illini Prairie football predictions 2026, Friday Night Forecast high school football Illinois, Week 8 football predictions, Unity Rockets football predictions, this week's SJO football predictions, Monticello Sages football predictions

Photo Gallery | St. Joseph-Ogden defeats Central Catholic

The Spartans (7-0) win their Illini Prairie game clinching the conference title with a 54-42 over visiting Bloomington Central Catholic (5-2). Check out 47 photos from the game in the slideshow below.

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Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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TAGGED: BCC football, St. Joseph-Ogden beats Bloomington Central Catholic at home, photo gallery from the Spartan home game against the Saints, SJO football team wins conference game, Illini Prairie football game