I knew the time had come to get serious about creating as one rejection email after another filled my inbox. I mean, so what if I don’t have experience with SAP (affectionately known at some companies as satan’s accounting package), it’s not rocket science and I’m smarter than the average bear but nobody’s ever going to know that as I sit home in my studio collecting wrinkles. So enough of this nonsense. What am I waiting for? My head is full of ideas and possibilities and dreams come true. Why am I not implementing this Pandora’s box of God given creativity?
Well one reason would be that I cannot create in chaos. Just a fettish I’ve developed. The answer to that was to clean, organize and purge. Going through every bin in the basement would also give me an opportunity to refresh my memory in regards to what I had on hand to work with. Honestly folks, I don’t think I have to go out a buy any supplies whatsoever. As I unearthed enough fabric to start my own quilt shop, 2 million cardboard egg cartons, enough ribbon for Rapunzel to lower herself to the ground from the highest castle tower, enough jars to pickle a large elephant, paper and card stock enough to stock Michael’s craft store, tissue paper flowers to redo the lobby of the Bellagio. And the bags. I reasoned I’d better get rid of most of them or people would be referring to me as a bag lady. We won’t even talk about the magazines…oops, I just did.
I also discovered all sorts of housewares, seasonal decor and clothes that I didn’t even remember I had so I guess I’m not too desperate for those things. Out they go. I filled half the garage with clothes, housewares, decor, toys, dishes that I am not even going to miss after we haul them away. Good riddance. We still own and store enough stuff to be suppliers for Costco. Its been back breaking work but I’m beginning to see the end. Monday the linen closet and my walk-in and I’ll have no more excuses for not getting down to what I have been talking about all summer. In my defense, I had a few pies to make this last month.
I don’t know about you but I just love that feeling that I have been through every nook and cranny of our home and been through every bin, box and bag and gotten rid of all the fluff (and the garbage). It’s a puzzlement – why do people keep garbage? Is it because they don’t know its garbage until they get their hands on it a 2nd or 3rd time? It feels like losing weight. I feel lighter and freer. I think I have more clarity too. Hebrews 12:1 comes to mind. “Throw off all that hinders…..and run with endurance the race that is marked out for you”. So I am trying to throw off all that hinders, physically and spiritually, so I can get on with running the race marked out for me. And its going to be so much more fun, peaceful and productive without the chaos and cacophony of disorganization and accumulation.
If I’m being honest, I’m not 100% sure of the race that is marked out for me. I guess that’s been my conundrum. But maybe I just have to start running and God will lead. Rather than sit here waiting to get started and going nowhere. I took a study awhile back by John Ortberg titled “If you want to walk on water, then you’ve got to get out of the boat”. Time to get out of the boat. James says “True religion ….is to not be polluted by the world”. I have been SO polluted by the world as was evidenced by the stuff I had surrounded myself with. I’m still surrounded with stuff but less stuff and the thing that I am going to do differently this time is to not bring in more stuff. If I’m smarter than the average bear I should have figured this out long ago. Its not like my mother hasn’t been telling me this for ages. Quit bringing in more stuff.
As I go to bed tonight, I truly am feeling more at peace and lighter and freer than a week ago. I like it. Empowered. I am in control of the stuff, its not in control of me.
The Red Plaid Apron 