Why are we so attached to stuff? Yesterday we went through one of Joel's storage tubs that holds 38 years of ministry memories. Ugh. So difficult to let go of things, but so necessary. Just going through one tub had both Joel and I out of sorts. There were things in the tub we have not laid eyes on in several years........would probably not miss them if the tub was lost.........but unwrapping each plaque or knick-knack and thumbing through books and notebooks left us out of sorts. Why are we so attached to stuff?
Some dear friends are in the final stages of stepping into a new season in their lives. They sold their home, and have now sold nearly all their belongings. What will go with them is only what fits in the 5th wheel. I expect that it was not easy to part with some of their possessions, but their desire to travel full time in their 5th wheel outweighs their need to hold on to their stuff.
When we lived in The Philippines, we were unable to take much with us. We put a lot of things in storage and managed to live 2 years without it quite easily. In fact, when we came back to the US, and the boxes arrived from storage, it was like Christmas as we opened each box to see what was inside! For those two years we did not miss what we did not have.
Not everyone is emotionally attached to their stuff, but I expect all of us have a few things we would not want to live without. Our oldest son is very attached to stuff and has a story to tell with every item he holds. Our oldest daughter gathers and holds many things dear the same way. When we started to pare down our 9 tubs of Christmas directions, they were first in line to take things to their own homes. Our second oldest daughter is quite the opposite. She really is not attached to things. People, of course, but not things. Regardless, some "things" seem to bring forth strong emotions in our lives.
So, what if God asked us to let go of all our stuff to follow him? The Bible gives us an example of surrendering all to do His will. The disciples were fishermen and Jesus asked them to drop their nets and follow Him. A big deal, really, to leave behind their livelihood for something new. To leave behind all the familiar to follow Jesus in a new adventure. Sometimes he calls us to do so. Our stuff cannot be more important than Him. Our comfortable lives cannot get in the way of God's plan for us. It is not that He does not want us to have an abundant life filled with good things, but it is important that we do not become so attached to our things that we cannot walk forward.
I think about Joel's cousin David Simonson and his wife Eunice. When David graduated from the seminary they left everything familiar behind to go to Africa as missionaries in Tanzania. For fifty years they served the Masai tribe. He was so respected they gave them land to live on and David is now buried there. Eunice and 4 of her 5 kids still call Africa home. David's work for God and his desire to bring others to Christ changed that part of the world.
Not all of us are called to surrender all that is familiar and literally move across the world, but I believe we are all asked to surrender in our own ways, and serve God in the best plan He has for us. Joel and I have see God at work so often over the years where Joel was called to congregations. And most recently we have been asked by God to step out of the familiar of our Norwegian Lutheran heritage and denomination and expand our beliefs. We have been asked by God to redefine ourselves as people who have a Norwegian Lutheran foundation but live with incurable Pentecostal and charismatic tendencies. We did not ask for this. We asked for healing and what we learned about healing led to more of Holy Spirit and more of Holy Spirit changed our lives. We have had to let go of some of the "stuff" we held close as God opened doors for us to walk a different path. It has not always been easy but just like our friends, the desire for something more outweighs the need to hang on to our "stuff".
Out of love, God is always reshaping us. Whether we are getting rid of the stuff that fills our storage tubs, shifting our beliefs, or letting go of the stuff of the past, we know God is with us. And when looking forward we don't miss what we no longer have, especially once we step into something new.
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