De-cluttering - Part 1

These next two weeks are going to be really instrumental for Debsue and I.  We are marrying off a daughter on Friday and then moving the following week.  In one sense, it marks the end of an era.  Our kids are not not going to be living with us again (at least not likely) and they are off living their own lives.  It is time to make a change.  It will be such a kick to have all three girls home for the final time and I get choked up thinking that it will be the last time.  We get to see Bethany coming down the steps in her wedding dress in the home that she grew up in.  Then the next week (no time for real reflection), we move to our new home in Brecksville.

Brecksville marks a real change for us.  We are going from a large home to a much smaller cluster home.  We are going from nearly six acres to exactly one foot.  That's right, we only own the land under the house and one foot of land around the perimeter.  But it is within walking distance of downtown Brecksville, the Metro Parks, the library, and the community center.  We could have just taken a mini-version of what we have now, but we chose a more radical change; a lifestyle change. 

You see, we both want to de-clutter our lives.  We are finding ourselves giving things away and feeling liberated in the process.  We decided that there was just no room for a piano, but we knew some friends who were looking for a piano for their small children and couldn't afford a new one.  We gave away a whole bunch of stuff to charity.  It truly is freeing to be lighter and more nimble.  We still have a long way to go, but we are finding our lives going in the direction of simpler.  Are you going in the direction of simpler?  As Americans, we seem to live for complicated. 

Are you married to your possessions?  Jesus said to the rich young ruler to "go and sell all your possessions and come follow me".  Jesus knew this was the problem for the man.  He even asks him if he "wishes to be complete" he must do this.  Is Jesus saying we can't have possessions?  Of course not.  Wealthy women financed his ministry.  He was buried in a rich man's tomb.  And Mark had the upper room where he spent his last days.  But we can't be married to our possessions or they will possess us. 

We started our de-cluttering several years ago and I would estimate it will take a number of more years to get further.  But the quality of our lives and our relationships thus far is vastly improved.  I feel closer to the God who redeemed me and to the wife of my 28 years.  We look forward to this next phase of our lives as God readies us for wherever He leads us.  We pray that we will be light enough on our feet to be ready for this next mission.