Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Last Friday I had the procrastinated task of cleaning out a U Haul storage locker that I had rented for far too long.
Some of the items I needed and was glad to retrieve. There were my snow skis, which I had dearly missed, trinkets, mementos, cutting edge electrical gadgets, or at least they were when I stored them.
As I toiled about in the hot sun packing my truck and trying to separate what I intended to go to Goodwill from that which I intended to keep, I couldn’t help but get frustrated at all of the boxes I had that were filled with – stuff.
There were two boxes of kitchen utensils. Gee, I didn’t realize I even owned that many kitchen utensils. Many towels, auto parts, souvenirs, old magazines and receipts for bills long since paid were among, what now was referred to as clutter.
I found a computer monitor with which I never thought I’d want to part. However now as I surveyed my truck for space I began to prioritize differently. The U haul place is about 150 miles from where I now live. The things had been there about 5 years, and during that time the size of monitors has decreased, the scanner I had so carefully packed is a stand alone which has been replaced by my printer that scans, photo copies and oh yes, it prints too. The VCR has been replaced by TiVo and CD players. I can no longer squeeze my expanding middle into some of the pants and what ever did I save these boots for, I have some “better” ones now.
As I packed some and discarded some the lady who worked at the U Haul place came over to chat. She asked me if I was taking everything. I told her she could have all the dishes and the scanner too. Her eyes lit up and she was very grateful. She said she could really use the scanner which works perfectly I just no longer had any use for it.
Only when I began giving away the items did I really start to feel good about the whole ordeal. I didn’t have to force things into an already over stuffed truck, and, I made someone happy.
It really hit me that I didn’t want to lug yesterday’s treasures 150 miles, I certainly don’t want to lug them all the way to Heaven. How often do I rush to buy the latest greatest fad or electronic fashion only to have it rendered obsolete months later? Oh, I kept things. I have things given to me by parents, children and friends. Things which I hope to keep for awhile. However the tenacity with which I clutch things needs to change. There is nothing permanent on earth. The material gifts others have given me are naught compared to the memories and love we have shared. Mom’s patience and love for writing. Dad’s mechanical and financial management skills, those aren’t inside any boxes. No flood or fire can destroy them.
