I've had the idea that keeping stuff costs me rolling around in my brain for a few weeks now. It is a powerful thought and a complete para dime shift for me. You see by nature I love to re-purpose, snag a bargain, or give new life to something handed my way. This means that I can see the good and usefulness in things that others may over look. This also means that I may hang on to something that should possibly be let go of. Thankfully my husband balances me and we purge things out of our house on a regular basis. Also we've had a history of moving often and I often come back to the thought of "Traveling light". However, I have always thought it makes sense to keep something if you could use it someday down the road. I mean why would you want to buy it twice? Then I started to really ponder Luke 12. The whole chapter is so deep in wisdom that it is worth your time to read it over several times carefully. The part that kept coming to my mind was the parable of the "rich fool". He had a great harvest, then decided to build bigger barns to store his grain so that he could take it easy for a few years. It is the context where the famous saying, "EAT, DRINK and be MERRY" comes from. Only instead of it being something that we stencil in our dining rooms, Jesus is saying that he was a fool. This man had put all of his treasure on earth instead of in heaven and we have no guarantee of tomorrow. I've been on an organizing rampage in my house. The question that I've started to ask myself is," What is my bigger barn that I want to build?" Stick with me here. I realized that everything that I hold onto costs me something. For example I spent $15.00 on bins for hats, gloves, scarves, etc for my coat closet. The person who has one pair of gloves need not buy a bin to sort them into. Also each time I handle something it requires a moment of my time that I never get back. So every time I have straightened my closet the more things I have to handle the longer the job takes me or rather the more it costs me. This is a breakthrough. Lets say that you are given a bag of free stuff, awesome right? Well yeah, but follow me here. Then a while later you score some great deals at a garage sale, and you hang onto some stuff that you can re-purpose. Before you know it what may only have a true value that is very small forces you to buy a shelf, build a shed, or even buy a bigger house. And with that in mind I intend to be much more discriminating about both what comes into my life and what I let stay. Life is measured in moments and I don't want to miss any because of my "treasures". By posting this I am now accountable. You have the right to call me out, to stop by and take a look at my back room(yikes!!!)OK so it's a work in progress, but you get what I'm saying. And I challenge you to travel light as well. Perhaps you have been the steward of several items that it is time to pass along and bless someone else with their care. The less you have the less you mend, fix, fold, paint...I am trying to remember this as I shop. What is new and crisp today will soon be faded and stained, perhaps I shall just have a few things and take really good care of them. I'm still processing, I'd love to hear what you think.
Luke 12:32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In order to put this into real world practice I am hosting a garage sale this spring. The proceeds will go to help a family in need.
