Today is another purge day. I’m holding in my hand a wooden bead and a 7″ narrow green ribbon. You are my witnesses that I just put both in the trash. Repurposing is better but who wants my little bits and pieces left over from my life? I know I can’t take it with me but “I might need this”. I recently filled out an inventory of my home contents for insurance purposes. Joshua doesn’t quite fit this scenario because ‘stuff’ is not life or death but I want to keep what I need for this final chapter. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” – Joshua 1:9. As we boldly go into the future there are some things that are helpful for daily life. I think it is the excess, “I might need this”, that I struggle with. We can expect God’s provision but He does not find hoarding as practical. Someone else might be able to use the thing I am hanging onto for a rainy day. What does that mean anyway? It can rain everyday in Seattle-land! My worst offense is left over from sewing and playing dress-up throughout my childhood. I never stopped. I keep everything but am finally staring down a reason to purge – aging. Most get a bit wider with age. I’ve tried to hold on but it is not working as easily as when youth was on my side. Tell me, how many black jackets does one need? I have ten, not counting the sweatshirts and coats. Another challenge is I have never found a white blouse or blue and white pin-stripped shirt I didn’t like. Besides, we are clothed in Christ.
I received an update from one of my favorite authors, Mary DeMuth. She is working on a book proposal with a section about clothes. I reached out to get her permission to quote these few lines and could not connect. If you like this preview please buy her book and if I get into trouble, so be it. “My closet overflows with hasty decisions. Sales gone wild. Must haves for the season”. Don’t forget that, “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness” – Isaiah 61:10. And what about the armor of God? ‘They’ say we keep buying the same thing over and over. It’s true. I clip every article I like on downsizing. It is an art and people make it a profession because of people like me. Dishes are another thing. I love ceramics. Do I need to keep a set of dishes just for Christmas? Oh Martha Stewart just go away. You have had too much influence. Then the hutch with my Mother’s precious things that later generations might not value. In just reviewing my insurance inventory I think I have overvalued things like furniture. People prefer new. So, in thirty minutes, I have a phone appointment so let me prayerfully tackle a drawer in a file cabinet. It is still purging however small my efforts. I don’t want stuff to complicate my life or hold me back. The familiar bell-shaped curve on gathering and purging puts people my age on the later end. Let’s land this on Matt 6:33, “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”, because the best evidence for the resurrection is that I approach my saved self differently than the world does.
