A look through my eyes

To everything a season

My husband and I have been cleaning out our garage and other areas of our life that have accumulated large amounts of stuff.  After living in the same house for over 20 years, we've managed to acquire quite a collection.  Although a great deal of it is necessary, there are still many items that fall into the category of unneeded.  Even though I wanted to cry at times, I had to laugh when an emotional attachment to something seemed to supersede necessity.  Cleaning out things from our children's childhood seemed to be the most difficult.  Papers and artwork that have been saved for years, and have no value other than sentimental,  were hard to discard. Putting my emotions aside, I pulled out a small collection to show their children, and pitched the rest. Moving into the playroom we have for the grandchildren was no easier. Some toys which have weathered a great deal of use, needed to be retired.  Remembering all the small hands which held them, and those who might still, made it a much more difficult process than I first thought.  Through tears of remembrance, many were sent on to other homes.

Change is not something I do well, even when it's necessary. 

Taking time to purge what is no longer helpful has been very liberating though.  As each unused or unnecessary item made its way down the path to its new destination, I felt a burden lift from my shoulders.  Looking at the new openness in the shed, garage, play room and closets, I realized just how overwhelmed we'd become with"stuff".  Unlike times in the past, I have no desire to fill the empty spaces.  There is something very freeing about becoming uncluttered.

It is a good reminder to me to let the seasons of time come and go.  Each earthly event or season is for a moment in time, not eternity. I can't take any of the items I've acquired over the years with me when I die, nor would I want to do so.  As much pleasure as most of it has brought me, I know it will pale in the light of eternity and God's presence. 

Time passes by more quickly everyday, and with each new day we must evaluate what is of most value.  As we watch the remembrances of September 11, 2001  the frailty of what we think is permanent, will once again be brought to the forefront.. Although the altered skyline of New York city made an impact, the loss of human life far supersedes any value that might be placed on a building.

As we approach the eighth anniversary of the event, I encourage you to think back to what you valued most when you became aware of what had happened.  Do you still value it in the same way?  Don't let complacency and time crowd out what is most treasured.  Instead, clear out what is cluttering the area, and make room for your most precious treasures.