The Next Season: Purging

As last Winter ended and Spring began, we were still looking for an apartment. Last time we moved I knew we had too much stuff. I wanted to make our next move with far less stuff. Now that we were not bringing in so much new stuff by shopping, we were able to take a look at what we already had and prepare to get rid of some things.

Letting go can be agonizing, but as I began to let go, it became easier to let go of even more. I made a goal to get rid of half our stuff. I don't think we are there yet, but we did let go of quite a bit during that season. I struggled with how to make these decisions. I wanted some clear criteria. I began asking myself these questions.

Should I keep this?

Is it serving me well?
Does it serve guests in our home?
Am I depending on it instead of depending on God?
Am I storing up security?
Am I using it to identify myself or make a statement?
Does it hinder me from community (making me independent, distracting from true relationships)?
Does it cost more (space, money, energy, time, attention, peace of mind) to maintain than it is worth (financial, relational, distraction)?
Does it cause strife in our lives?
Does it keep me from living in the present?
Am I keeping it to serve something else that I should be letting go of?
Should I be sharing it or borrowing it instead of owning it?

As I made cuts in my book collection I found that some of them were on my shelf only to make a statement about my identity. Out they went. Others were about subjects that I wanted to share with others. If I want to present new ideas to people, it is best done in conversation, in the context of loving relationship. If I can't do that, loaning them a book is worthless anyway. Out they went.

I sorted a lot of things out to consign, donate, or give to various places. Without a car it took some effort but I delivered most of these things. Then I sorted out more. Rather than run around to drop them off I brought a lot of things to my friend's yard sale. She kept track of my profit and after the sale she put the leftover goods out for free. I picked up a few of my things but some of my stuff had gone for free that I might have been able to sell elsewhere. At first it bothered me that I hadn't gotten a few more dollars out of my castoffs. I thought of it with regret occasionally, but after a couple months I was just really grateful that those things were gone. That I was no longer a slave to them. I was free.

Yet I wanted to be free of so much more of my stuff. Free from having to steward so much that gives so little value in return.