Storing Stuff vs. Stewardship

Following up on last week's "Stop Buying to Become" and "Trapped by the Trappings," I'm re-visiting this blog post, which was originally published two years ago:

The Garage

Something had to be done about all the stuff stored in the garage.

So, last week I decided to spend fifteen minutes every day "making a dent" in the dozens of boxes that got thrown into the garage during last summer's hurried move.

The boxes I needed to reorganize contained the best of the best of my sewing supplies. 

I'd given away no less than twenty boxes of fabric when we moved four years ago, but I'd kept my favorite cuts for special projects I just knew I'd find time to make. 

I'd given away hundreds of patterns but kept a few dozen I was certain I'd use "someday." 

And I'd hung onto all my expensive tools and supplies: sewing machine, serger, countless specialty feet, snap and grommet fasteners, packages of seam binding, yards of elastic, buttons galore, and so much more!

A gorgeous 6-yard cut of a camel-and-cream herringbone silk/wool blend was in the first box. I'd purchased it, oh about ten years ago, specifically to make Daniel what was sure to be a stunning long coat. (I'd kept the pattern for the navy wool coat I made him during our first year of marriage 22 years ago.)

However, while lovingly lifting the fabric from the box, I suddenly dropped it in disgust, as a shower of mouse droppings scattered over the garage floor. Upon closer inspection, I saw – to my utter dismay – yellow spots all over the top of the fabric. 

Hoping against hope that most of the fabric could yet be cleaned and salvaged, I shook it out to its full length...and discovered that the little vermin had gnawed ragged holes through all six yards (for which I'd originally paid $20+ per.)

I felt sick.

As I stuffed the ruined fabric in the trash can, I rued the waste of good money and the loss of beautiful fabric. 

Someone could have used that fabric if I hadn't kept it in storage.

I looked around the garage. 

Someone could use ALL of this stuff if I quit insisting on storing it!


Stewardship?

According to Mirriam-Webster, stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells of three servants who receive money from their master. Two put the money to immediate use; one buries it. 

When the master returns, he says a hearty, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" to those who have taken action with the money, inviting them to "enter into the joy" of their master.

But the servant who stored the stuff is condemned as "wicked and lazy" for his failure to at least allow others to put the master's wealth to good use.


Letting Go

So began the Great Gregory Give-Away.

Annemarie and I pulled out all the boxes marked "Christmas Decor" and ruthlessly sorted. Anything broken we trashed. Anything not used in the last four years (two moves) went in the "Give Away" pile. 

We set a dozen boxes near the community mail boxes in the ad building, and I sent out a mass e-mail, letting everyone know that that there was FREE STUFF waiting to be re-owned. Everything was gone in less than a day.

This week, I had Daniel take all boxes of "sewing stuff" out of storage. A carload of boxes got moved into my classroom, where I've spread out the fabric, the notions, the tools, the patterns... all of the stuff I've been storing "for someday" since Annemarie (who turns 20 in March) was 10. And I've sent an e-mail to everyone on campus, inviting them to let themselves in and take whatever they can use.

Several friends have urged me to slow down, to list the "valuable" items on eBay or Craig's List. "You could get some money for that!" they assure me, warning me against the wasteful extravagance of just giving everything away.

But focusing on money is what motivated me to store all this stuff in the first place. Knowing "how much I paid for it" or "how much it's worth" caused me to stuff stuff into boxes, to stuff shelving units with boxes, to stuff a garage full of shelving units. 

I shudder to think about how much money have I already wasted by storing perfectly good stuff until it's past use.

I clearly have much to learn about "the careful and responsible management" of the wealth God has "given away" to me. I've prided myself in being faithful to pay my tithes and offerings, but that's not what stewardship is about. Stewardship involves everything He's entrusted to my care.

So, I'll start with my garage...and see where He leads from there.


Two Years Later

I'd love to say that our family has miraculously transformed into minimalists in the last two years. 

But by now you know me well enough to be very suspicious of such a claim.
I'd love to say that we're "doing better" than we were two years ago. 
But even though the garage isn't any worse, and I did spend the month of June de-cluttering, I think we've been holding our own.
Or at least I have.

• Holding my own clothes because I might lose the weight or the style might return. 

• Holding my own scrapbooking supplies because someday I just know I'm going to become a real scrapper!

• Holding my own books because...well...they're books! 

I'm considering "tear" as my one word for 2013.  (I like it because it can have so many meanings...multiple words rolled up in one...almost like cheating only not!)
For years, I've reluctantly "let go" of some of my stuff. 
"Let go."  
So passive.  
(Difficult, yes! But still passive.)
I need to start tearing.  
Tearing away.  Tearing out.  
(Yes, I may well tear up in the process!)
I'm tired of "holding my own."
It's time to tear.

Your Turn!

• Do you relate at all to my original blog post from two years ago?  Why or why not?

• What "stuff" do you find easiest to let go?  What do you find hard to even consider "tearing out" of your life?

• Anything else on your heart!

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Coming in January!

Sign up to receive Cheri's FREE eBook when it releases!

Day 23: CLEANSE

Our Give-Away for Today!

The Get Yourself Organized Project

Finally, an organizational book for women who have given up trying to be Martha Stewart but still desire some semblance of order in their lives.


Most organizational books are written by and for people who are naturally structured and orderly. For the woman who is more ADD than type A, the advice sounds terrific but seldom works. These women are looking for help that takes into account their free-spirited outlook while providing tips and tricks they can easily follow to live a more organized life.


Kathi Lipp, author of The Husband Project and other “project” books, is just the author to address this need. In her inimitable style, she offers

• easy and effective ways women can restore peace to their everyday lives
• simple and manageable long-term solutions for organizing any room in one’s home (and keeping it that way)
• a realistic way to de-stress a busy schedule
• strategies for efficient shopping, meal preparation, cleaning, and more

Full of helpful tips and abundant good humor, The Get Yourself Organized Project is for those who want to spend their time living and enjoying life rather than organizing their sock drawer.

Kathi Lipp is a full-time speaker and writer as well as being the parent of four young adults with her husband, Roger in San Jose, CA. When she is not doing laundry, she is speaking at retreats, conferences and women's events across the US. Find out more about Kathi, and get some great freebies, at http://www.kathilipp.com and Facebook 

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Summer vacation is almost here. Soon, I can tackle the long over-due tasks I’ve been putting off since...Christmas vacation!

#1 on my list: CLEAN UP. 

Everything.

 I have waaaaay too much stuff. Clutter is multiplying and bearing down on us from every side. It’s suffocating. (This photo is real...please don’t judge me!)

On Warm-Up Day 8, we talked a bit about “Cleaning Out These PURSE-onalities!” and getting rid of all the purse trash we carry around.

We really do not want our lives full of trash and clutter and stuff. 

We do want to clean up our acts.

So why is it so hard to let go?  

No Place to Hide 

At a women’s retreat last year, I spent prayerful time journaling in response to the question:  What “fig leaves” do I hide behind?

At the top of my list were “starting” and “joining.”  New projects. New businesses. New groups. New causes. 

Why do I love starting and joining?

Each time is a a chance at a “new me”! A whole new I.D. 

Oh, how I’ve always longed for a fresh start! To be brand new and squeaky clean. So I’ve jumped at every chance for do-it-myself re-NEW-al.  

Of course, D.I.Y. has never worked. God says, “I will make all things new!” He will renew me.  I can not renew me.  I. AM. NOT. GOD.

I was reminded of this when a student asked me, as I was opening a box from Amazon and delighting in my latest self-help book, “Mrs. G, why do you read so many of those kinds of books?” 

Glibly, I quipped, “Well, I just have so much room for growth!”

But later, in moments of quiet reflection, I had to admit that even my beloved books are, far too often, “fig leaves” behind which I hide.

And try to minimize my sin. 

Try to be “good enough” by my own efforts.

Try to Do It Myself.

How much trash and clutter and stuff must I hide behind before I finally admit:

I. Can. Not. Do. It. Myself.

I can’t clean up my own act.

No Need to Hide

(Can't see the image? Click here to download 1 John 1:9)

Yes, it’s scary asking God to take out our trash and stuff and clutter. 

For the longest time, I was scared of emptiness. 

Terrified that if I let Him do a thorough cleansing of my life, nothing would be left...nothing to hide behind. 

I wrote this a few months ago as I was pondering the difference between “empty” and “spacious”: 

I used to try to fill 

that empty place inside.

With food.

With people.

With shopping.

With starting.

With busy-ness.

But I realize now that it's not empty.

It's spacious.

Ready and waiting to hold 

whatever comes next. 

Or content with 

nothing more.

I used to think I was 

empty 

desperate to be 

filled with 

just the right thing 

to make me complete.

But He brought me out 

into a spacious place

and I’m discovering

how much easier

it is to breathe

when there's

plenty of

space.

The more I’m learning to take refuge in Him, the less I “need” my other hiding places, my other fig leaves. 

And the more I’m finding that trashed, stuffed, and cluttered pale in comparison to the clean and spacious life He is renewing in me!

Try this today:  As you’re journaling, prayerfully consider what “fig leaves” you hide behind, trying to cover up sin that only God can forgive and cleanse. You might look at your PURSE-onality “gift card” and consider your particular PURSE-onality weaknesses (which are generally strengths taken to the extreme.)

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Please leave a comment 

• responding to today’s blog, and/or

• sharing your Day #1-23 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or

• about anything else on your heart!

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(Catch up on any "Warm-Up Week" Blog Posts!)