Sarah J considers the benefits

Sarah J

This year I set myself a goal of clearing out all of my stuff that I had been storing in the attic! It was quite a challenge as I had accumulated much through the many years of living at my house. Being a sentimental person I would keep things as 'keep sakes' to give me memories of people and places that I love. There was a lot to sort through and let go of. My goal was for a clear attic and no more clutter! It was time for a big clear out!

I had some help emptying the attic into my spare room so that I could face all of the boxes that I had hidden in the rafters. I couldn't recall putting that much stuff in my attic and wondered what was in the boxes. As I started to open them up I had quite a surprise about the contents! For example, I found letters from family, friends and romantic acquaintances from my teens! I read some of them and smiled with fond recollections. I read others and cringed to the point that I stopped reading and headed straight for the shredder! There were things in the boxes that I was now really happy to be getting rid of, whereas previously I had thought they were worth storing.

I realised from sorting through things that I have changed as a person. Some of the letters were replies to letters I had written and gave me a picture of what I was like. Don't get me wrong I am still a work in progress! But I am a different person today than the young lady of whom I was reading about! I was quite shocked by my attitudes and behaviours as I came across an old diary! Lots of cringing and another trip to the shredder!

Spring cleaning a home marks a new season - getting rid of the old to embrace the new. It's the transition from winter to summer. Maybe you've been having a wintry time and need to let go of the frost and embrace the warmth. Letting go might mean letting go of negative feelings or it might be items that have memories attached to them that hold you back in some way.

In the Bible there was a young ruler that was wealthy and at the offer of giving up his 'stuff' to follow Jesus and enter into an exciting eternal life, he declined, I guess because he loved his wealth. Maybe he loved his 'stuff' because it made him feel like somebody; maybe it gave him his identity. Jesus is saddened by the young ruler's response as the young ruler walks away from Jesus. Jesus tells his disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person (still with all their 'stuff') to enter God's Kingdom. It's a bizarre comment if you think about a camel getting through the eye of a needle. I often thought it was weird until someone kindly explaining that 'the eye of the needle' was a name of a gateway into Jerusalem that was very small. Camels entering Jerusalem through this gateway with big loads on their backs needed to unload before bending low to get through the gateway. I imagine that the camel welcomed having the load taken off its back and was less keen about the re-loading on the other side!

There is a phrase called 'travelling light'. The lighter the load the easier it is to travel great distance with ease. When I've been back packing I've experienced carrying a heavy rucksack and how it's hindered the trip and certainly my enjoyment of the trip! I think it's probably hindered my friend's fun as well when they needed to keep helping me from toppling over or when I turned round quickly and nearly knocked them over! When I've taken less 'stuff' with me I've been free to experience more!

Carrying a lighter load enables you to walk through gateways! I wonder what gateways are ahead of you that require you to let go of some 'stuff' in order for you to come into something more than you are presently used to? Is it time for a spring clean in order that you can have an adventure with God?

Now the attic is clear it's time to start on my work desk!!!!