One of my new favorite pastimes is to get rid of things. Over the last few decades of life, I have managed to collect boxes of keepsakes, paraphernalia and “I might use that someday…” stuff. I have literally filled my basement with who-knows-what. If we had a flood, I would not be able to tell the insurance adjuster what I lost, that is how meaningless the boxes of stuff had become.
I decided it was time to purge. Molly and I were ready to get rid of the things we were holding onto ridiculously. We didn’t want to make room for new stuff. We just wanted to make room. Space. Uncluttered and cleaned out.
We have now had two garage sales in a matter of three weeks. I’ve let things be sold for pennies on the dollar; my goal was not to make money but to make space. With each thing I sold, I realized how little I was actually attached to it. In fact, I found myself amazed that anyone else would even want it. The feeling of freedom that has come from this deep-cleaning has been wonderful. No only is my basement cleaned out, my mind and life seems to be more clear as well.
Stuff weights us down. Even the things we love have a way of cluttering our minds, emotions and relationships. The management of too much stuff can be more wearing on us than we acknowledge. It isn’t until we say “I am so sick of living like this!” that we finally clue in to the burden our possessions can become over time.
We must see the clutter in its right perspective. I read in McKeown’s Essentialism book that “we value things we own much more than what they are worth.” This statement had become true in my life. I valued things that had become worthless, be it old electronics or t-shirts from some event I thought was significant. Too often I saved stuff that didn’t need to be saved. I have to view these possessions for their real worth in order to get rid of them.
We must have an attitude of generosity. By holding on to stuff, I have an ownership attitude – “This is mine. I earned it.” When my perspective became “God gave me everything I have, I steward it,” then I am more quickly to give it or sell it to someone else that would have a better use for it. I’ve delivered bags of stuff to secondhand stores over the last few months. I may never see the person they helped, but I know it went somewhere better than where I had it.
When we let go of things, we will gain clarity of mind and have a less-hurried style of living. When my life is de-cluttered, I am more likely to have clarity at home. When my office is simplified to all I really need, I am able to think more clearly there as well. A life that is clean and clear will produce a mind that is the same.
By keeping less, we will keep better track of things we value. I’ve lost a lot of things over the last few months. Recently I lost my wedding ring, keys, wallet, drivers license, favorite cubs hat and sun glasses. The loss of all of this became a motivation for me to do some of extreme purging. I am convinced that when our lives are cleaned up, it is easier to keep track of things that we cherish.
Stuff is just that – stuff. There are people and purposes far greater than the stuff we acquire over life. Remember, we are pilgrims, just passing through. Holding too tightly to the things of this world will keep us from loving the place we are ultimately going – home with Christ!
