Throwing Things Away

September 1, 2008

We are getting some long needed renovations in our house – so, to make way for the demolition (what a great and terrifying word) – I am throwing things away.

There is a lot of soul building involved in throwing things away. You are facing the reality of your past (“I must have been insane to think that I would ever need that many napkin rings”).

You are making a choice about what path you will take in the future (“No , I am not going to drink from that stupid pink plastic cup again … ever”).

You are deciding the new ways in which you will live your life from now on (“With God as my witness, I will not use plastic utensils again!)

Too many people and institutions cling to their stuff and never throw things away. I know once thriving churches who now have 130 people in worship and have a Board and Committee structure that requires 120 people. Do they really need that many people running things?

As the daughter of a history professor, I grew up visiting historical sites and reading about the past. I have a healthy respect for it. But, the past can become an idol.

Institutions and people need to ask themselves: how can we be and do what God wants in this time and this place?