Sunday, August 1, 2010

Saying goodbye to stuff


Today we're packing up a decent load of our material possessions. Tom and Becca Whitney are buying much of our furniture for their first apartment together, and tomorrow is the pick-up day. It's incredibly convenient to have buyers for these nice things that we have to unload, and we're truly thankful for that!

It's also sad for us.


Physical things carry memories with them. I've woken up next to this nightstand for five years or so. It's held an alarm clock, water bottles, books, passports, a lamp - useful stuff that has played a role in God's myriad of blessings in our lives. Getting rid of it all also makes our continuing transition away from life here that much more tangible. We're leaving; it's real. There have been tears this morning. I'm glad these things will continue to be used to bless others, and I know we have to let them go in order to move on to the next step God has for us. And, it's good to recall, it's just stuff! Still, there's a slice of us that laments today.

Two devotional thoughts on the theme: "Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies..."
and, second, physical things and remembrance: "This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me."