What We Keep
This week’s post will be short, as this week (when I am also polishing an outline for a talk I’m giving on Monday night) was hijacked by a frantic clean-up project in Mom and Dad’s garage. The HOA found them guilty of “Using the Garage as Storage,” which is partially my fault because when Nate and I arrived five years ago we arrived with stuff, and when I cleaned out my storage unit in 2014 I brought more stuff. Then there’s all of Mom and Dad’s stuff, Nathan’s refusal to continue playing with the same toys he enjoyed at age 10, and my book addiction.
So we’ve spent the last five days thanking God that our belongings weren’t lost in a fire or mud slide, and dividing them into four categories:
Keep it.
Get rid of it.
Shred it.
I just can’t deal with this right now.
As frustrating as this has been, it forced us to downsize, shred tax forms that dated back to before Nathan was born, and decide what we really wanted to keep, which ultimately came down to how willing we were to pay for storage.
Next week, I’m sure I’ll have much more profound thoughts to share about the spiritual lessons found in clearing out the garage. For tonight, it’s all about how we decide what to keep and what to throw away or let someone else enjoy.
Box of pictures – Keep it.
Nathan’s homework packet from 2nd grade – Get rid of it. (Sorry Nathan. We have plenty more evidence that you’ve always been a genius.)
The loan paperwork for the house I no longer own – Shred it.
My early attempts at writing for publication – I just can’t deal with this right now.
One benefit to cleaning out the garage – you find fun things that you forgot about!
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