As I sat there amidst piles of stuff, I began to think about the things we all cling to.
Material objects aren't really my deal. I purge our home often and without much thought. We've moved a lot recently and if I don't need it, I ain't taking it.
I don't cling to religion or to political ideals. Both of those things should be constantly changing and evolving since we as people should be constantly changing and evolving. I don't believe the same things I did a few years ago and that's as it should be, I think.
Where I find it hard to let go, is in my relationships with others. If I love you then I am loyal. If you are one of my people, then I'm with you till the end. Recently though, I'm becoming more aware about the flaw in this way of thinking.
Not too long ago, I had a friend who was a best friend. They were funny and smart and loyal. They liked all the same crap that I liked, we served together in ministry and lived our lives together. And then something pretty major happened in their lives and I witnessed this person whom I loved so much (for lack of a better word) just implode. I really tried to intervene and help and encourage and my efforts were rebuffed (as were the efforts of many others who loved this person). And I've had to watch from afar as this individual continues to make catastrophic decision after catastrophic decision. It's been terrible, truly heart wrenching and terrible to behold.
I've spent time worrying and fretting. I've spent time being angry and resentful. I've spent time judging them and their circumstances. I've spent time praying and crying. My time and energy and efforts have been given to this person... even though they'd made it clear they no longer wanted those things from me.
And until I sat in the midst of our clutter at church a few weeks ago, it never occurred to me just how harmful the things we cling to can be.
When our homes and our buildings are over run with things we no longer need we are being bogged down by possessions and we are robbing others who may genuinely need these things an opportunity to have them.
When we cling to rhetoric and religion, instead of allowing ourselves room to grow and room to hear new ideas and thoughts then we become people who are stuck in what was instead of being people who can embrace with love the world around us.
In clinging to a relationship that had long ago turned one sided, I was robbing myself of new relationships that were two sided. I was mired down in anger and fear and giving way too much of my time to something that had passed it's expiration date quite a while ago.
This morning I woke up and I prayed that I could let this person go. I prayed that they would be blessed and loved in their new life. When I think of them now, I hope that it is in fond remembrance of the good things and the good times and not in what could or should have been.
I sat quietly and meditated on the people who are positive influences in my life and in my heart and I am so thankful for each of you and the beauty you bring to my life. As I sat picturing all of the people who love me well I was overwhelmed with gratitude for each and every one of you.
It's so easy to hold onto things. It's so easy to ignore the clutter. But, when we do that we run the risk of our homes and our beliefs and our lives being take over by unhealthy junk. We fail to see what is new and life giving when we are covered up in the old.
By letting go of what was we make room for what is. By releasing our expectations and our habits of doing things the same way we've always done them we open ourselves up to new love and new ideas and we open up space in our hearts for a God that is always changing and always inviting us to newness.
What are the things that have passed their expiration date that you are currently clinging to?
What clutter do you need to clear out of your heart so that you may have room for what is new and life giving?
May you have the courage to clean out what is no longer useful in your hearts today, friends. And may you be blessed by the knowledge that when you let something hurtful go, you are enabling yourself to embrace something new and hopeful and beautiful in its place.
