Letting Go
Happy Spring to all of you! We’ve been in the southern states for the first part of this year. Pollen has officially said hello to this part of the world and we have been responding with a lot of sneezing! Along with this season of Spring comes a chore that millions of Americans will be doing soon. It’s called: Spring Cleaning.
For some, spring cleaning is a wonderful occasion. The house sparkles and they’ve gotten rid of useless items that have been cluttering up the place. For others, this time can be a huge source of stress. Do you have a pack rat in the family? Yes, I’m talking about that one who clings to their stuff even when they haven’t used it in ten years! Believe it or not, there are some people who are so excessive that there is now a medical term for it.
Hoarding Disorder
The Mayo Clinic has defined some of the symptoms as:
- Excessively acquiring items that are not needed or for which there’s no space
- Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove the clutter
- Significant distress or problems functioning in your home
Now I admit that I was a bit skeptical of this disorder. But I’m about to tell you story that you won’t soon forget.
My uncle, Pastor Steve Smith has a lawn care business in McAlester, Oklahoma. One day he received a call to do an estimate on the rich side of town. When he arrived at the address, he saw that the porch was piled up with boxes, books, papers, etc. As he walked up to the house, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The clutter started on the porch and continued out onto the patio and all the way down the sidewalks. The garage door was partially open and it was apparent that it was filled to the brim with clutter. Then the lady opened the front door and he could see piles of clutter stacked everywhere inside the house. There was so much stuff that the lady only had a narrow pathway to walk.
During his time of doing lawn care for this lady, she would continually order more things online and stack them wherever she could find the space. Most boxes were never opened and remained outside.
Letting Go
While I don’t know the story behind this lady’s condition, I do know that people who have came thru hard times such as the 1930’s Depression will have strong tendencies to hoard items. If we’re not careful, we will fall into the same trap spiritually. I’ve seen people who have been through some very hard trials and still cling to anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. When we refuse to let go of our past, it begins to mound up inside of us, just like the lady in our story. The end result is living with unnecessary limitations and restrictions that hinder our spiritual growth.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1
What is the one thing in your life that hinders you so easily? Are you struggling with letting go of something in your life that you’ve labeled as “Valuable” when God has labeled it “Clutter”? God is waiting to take your cluttered, and messed up life. You simply have to be willing to let it go and give it to Him. If you are struggling with this issue, please listen to the words of this song. Recorded on our latest album.
Go forward in Christ as you finally let go!