TPC "lite": How much can we Let Go?
…while replacing any “baditude” that might (?!?) crop up during the de-cluttering process with God’s word and gratitude.
Oh, I’ve “cleaned house” before. Below, you can read a blog post I wrote in late December 2010, the last time I tackled my “stuff.”
This time, I’m taking a different approach.
Instead of dread and guilt, I want to approach each room, each box, each pile with acceptance and compassion.
Acceptance that yes, I did this to my house, to my checking account, to myself.
Compassion that each item represents an attempt –misguided, to be sure! – but an honest attempt to solve a problem.
In the past, I’ve attacked this sort of job with a ton of caffeine, dozens of garbage bags, a timer, a checklist, and a strict schedule.
A sort of self-imposed Choleric purgatory, if you will.
(Needless to say, the results never lasted.)
This time, I want to sort my messes slowly.
To open myself to the Holy Spirit and listen, really listen. To learn as I reflect on the individual choices that are now crammed in boxes, on shelves, and, most importantly, in my heart.
You’re welcome to watch and listen; I’ll be sharing photos and blogging each day.
And, of course, you’re welcome to join me in asking the question: “How much will we let go? Let God?”
Storing Stuff vs. Stewardship
(originally written late December 2010)
Something had to be done about all the stuff stored in the garage.So, last week I decided to spend fifteen minutes every day “making a dent” in the dozens of boxes that got thrown into the garage during last summer’s hurried move.
The boxes I needed to reorganize contained the best of the best of my sewing supplies.
I’d given away no less than twenty boxes of fabric when we moved four years ago, but I’d kept my favorite cuts for special projects I just knew I’d find time to make. I’d given away hundreds of patterns but kept a few dozen I was certain I’d use “someday.” And I’d hung onto all my expensive tools and supplies: sewing machine, serger, countless specialty feet, snap and grommet fasteners, packages of seam binding, yards of elastic, buttons galore, and so much more!
A gorgeous 6-yard cut of a camel-and-cream herringbone silk/wool blend was in the first box. I’d purchased it, oh about ten years ago, specifically to make Daniel what was sure to be a stunning long coat. (I’d kept the pattern for the navy wool coat I made him during our first year of marriage 22 years ago.)
However, while lovingly lifting the fabric from the box, I suddenly dropped it in disgust, as a shower of mouse droppings scattered over the garage floor.
Upon closer inspection, I saw – to my utter dismay – yellow spots all over the top of the fabric.
Hoping against hope that most of the fabric could yet be cleaned and salvaged, I shook it out to its full length…and discovered that the little vermin had gnawed ragged holes through all six yards (for which I’d originally paid $20+ per.)
I felt sick.
As I stuffed the ruined fabric in the trash can, I rued the waste of good money and the loss of beautiful fabric. Someone could have used that fabric if I hadn’t kept it in storage.
I looked around the garage. Someone could use ALL of this stuff if I quit insisting on storing it!
***
According to Mirriam-Webster, stewardship is “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells of three servants who receive money from their master. Two put the money to immediate use; one buries it. When the master returns, he says a hearty, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” to those who have taken action with the money, inviting them to “enter into the joy” of their master.
But the servant who stored the stuff is condemned as “wicked and lazy” for his failure to at least allow others to put the master’s wealth to good use.
***
So began the Great Gregory Give-Away.
Annemarie and I pulled out all the boxes marked “Christmas Decor” and ruthlessly sorted. Anything broken we trashed. Anything not used in the last four years (two moves) went in the “Give Away” pile. We set a dozen boxes near the community mail boxes in the Administration Building (we live on a boarding school campus) and I sent out a mass e-mail, letting everyone know that that there was FREE STUFF waiting to be re-owned. Everything was gone in less than a day.
This week, I had Daniel take all boxes of “sewing stuff” out of storage. A carload of boxes got moved into my classroom, where I’ve spread out the fabric, the notions, the tools, the patterns… all of the stuff I’ve been storing “for someday” since Annemarie (who turns 20 in March) was 10. And I’ve sent an e-mail to everyone on campus, inviting them to let themselves in and take whatever they can use.
Several friends have urged me to slow down, to list the “valuable” items on eBay or Craig’s List. “You could get some money for that!” they assure me, warning me against the wasteful extravagance of just giving everything away.
But focusing on money is what motivated me to store all this stuff in the first place. Knowing “how much I paid for it” or “how much it’s worth” caused me to stuff stuff into boxes, to stuff shelving units with boxes, to stuff a garage full of shelving units. I shudder to think about how much money have I already wasted by storing perfectly good stuff until it’s past use.
I clearly have much to learn about “the careful and responsible management” of the wealth God has “given away” to me.
I’ve prided myself in being faithful to pay my tithes and offerings, but that’s not what stewardship is about.
Stewardship involves everything He’s entrusted to my care.
So, I’ll start with my garage…and see where He leads from there.
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I am so loving the “lite” entries. Thank you for being so honest. That is what women need. I feel such relief when I read about others struggling with the same issues I do and have stopped reading blogs where the person appears to have it all together. Life is so hard; women make it even harder, and reading about perfection makes us want to give up. Also, I love the fonts and colors you use. They make it so easy to read, and that really makes a difference!
I have Kathi’s book too. Sitting buried in a pile on my dresser. Time to pull it out.
Gingeroo616at aol dot com
About a year ago we moved to a much smaller house and so took the opportunity to do the much needed job of purging. I can relate with your garage story because is resembles mine so well. Now as we prepare to go to the States for a few weeks I keep trying to remind myself not to buy just for the sake of buying. When you live somewhere where shopping is not an event, but a chore, it’s easy to go into Walmart and malls and buy, buy, buy. I mean of course I need that gadget that does a zillion things in under a minute! I’m sure to use it at least a half dozen times before it gets stored under the counter. Anyway, as I try to write down a list of needs this blog was a good reminder to really think through and not buy more just because there’s still room in our luggage. Now I’m off to declutter our office that seems to be the dump all place. (Maybe I’ll set a box of stuff outside to bless passerbyers. It will be gone in less than an hour!)
I definitely want to work towards being a good steward. I am sure there is much in my small house I really do NOT need, but hang on to. Because the house is small and I am not a very good organizer, it ends up Clutter! My basement is full of it, and needs purging. That is my summer project. But I am also wanting to take this slow, so as not to be overwhelmed, keep a calm head about it all, and make wise choices.
And, honestly, with 5 little ones, it’s hard to let go off stuff that may be hard to get the next time I want it… Actually going to the store to buy something?… It’s “much easier” to just hold on to what I already have. You know, scraps of this and that… :\
Thank you for this perspective…I hadn’t really thought about our junk/clutter in terms of being a bad steward of resources. Makes me want to think really hard before I make any “necessary” purchases. Connie
This is very good. My husband has been talking about “all the stuff” in garage for a while now. We are hoping to get in there and get rid of some clutter but it is always very hard for both of us as we are savers. Your story was a very good and helpful reminder.
Trying to let go of my fears and let God deal with them.
I want to let go of the desire to please anyone before checking on what God thinks of me and what I’m doing.
Oh my…I so need to do this! I have to say I am not really ready to tackle this yet. God still needs to work on me a little more apparently! But, I will be following along so I can be ready when the prodding from Him starts…which I know it will. 🙂
I would love to just get rid of the clutter! It is so tiring!!
Vicky
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I know that God has led me to your blog when everything you’ve posted over the past month and continue to post are so timely for me right now. After quitting my job and now being home all that I see is the stuff that is all around me. I don’t have time for my hobbies due to busy schedules for the kids and all of this stuff is just in my way. It’s time to take control of the clutter. I know there are many people that could be using the things that are just in my way. I’ll have to get Kathi’s book. Maybe God’s plan for me involves Kathi’s wisdom. Thank you! God bless!
Ouch! Sometimes the Spirit’s conviction smacks me SO hard between the eyes…
Yesterday, I found myself in a similar place, though I hadn’t yet articulated it so well. I sewed up sundresses for my daughter and I, so that yet another project wouldn’t be stored on a shelf past its prime and promised myself that THIS summer, I would get it all back under control. Problem? In my head, that pesky little word “my” was added to that sentence. Yep, “MY control.” Oops!
Your reminder that I am a steward of HIS gifts and resources is a much needed reminder. I went through a box of old photos yesterday and threw away about 1/2 of them (Who WERE those people? Where on earth was this taken? I kept this fuzzy photo of myself WHY exactly?) What I’m left with is a meaningful collection of memories to be placed in my album to share with my family- especially my daughter, who loves the stories about who and where she comes from… and she was thrilled to find several pictures of her beloved Punky-cat who died just 2 weeks ago after a long 17 years as a part of our family.