A reader sent in the below which I thought you might find inspiring, especially if you feel overloaded with things!
I was watching Oprah recently as an expert who helps people organize their homes and de-clutter their lives was interviewed. He shared some amazing statistics.
He believes that 2/3’s of the people in the USA today live with clutter. He pointed out that 1 in 10 rent a storage space for the things they own, even though Americans today live in houses that are twice as big and families are twice as small as they were 50 years ago.
He said it was interesting to note that not only is 2/3’s of the population clutter’ers, but 2/3 of the population is also overweight.
He continued to explain that all of this excess, or clutter, reflects out-of-control living that many people live.
The way out of the box, he shared, is not to focus on the clutter but to look within oneself. He found there is always an emotional source for all of this clutter in ones’ life.
Some are holding onto the past thru memories and things that remind them of those memories, and others are holding onto things in fear they might need it in the future.
The tragedy is; it leaves very little room for living in the NOW. It would be more helpful to recognize that this moment in time is when we can find joy in the family, friends and relationships that we have rather than being burdened by excess mental baggage and things from the past.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us how to get rid of clutter. He instructed,
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
I find it amazing to consider that there isn’t any rust corroding the love I have for my children. And no one can steal the peace I have each day as I spend time in prayer and meditation. Harmony permeates my home with smiles and laughter that no one can take away and no one can complain are a burden.
Once we put on our spiritual glasses and begin to see the world through spiritual eyes, the things we have held onto so tightly lose their grip and don’t seem so important anymore.
Maybe it’s time to study the New Testament and gain a fresh reference for what is important and will last, so as we go through our day we see the things we own and store in an entirely new way. Old things can then be let go, they can pass away and allow for a renewal of our lives in less cluttered ways.
This is so true.
There is also a very helpful website, called flylady.net, who have a strategy for helping people to deal with clutter little by little. For those of us who have been completely overwhelmed it gives very practical advice and offers practical solutions one babystep at a time. I feel that the thought behind the thing of the website is gaining discipline and focus little bit by little bit. Check it out.
Thank you so much for the blog, it offers rays of infinite Truth one day at a time.
Breaking things down into manageable chunks, whether it is things that need to be learned or things that need to be done, or things that need to be got rid of, is so helpful.
Yours gratefully,
Amanda
It is so refreshing to hear this message, especially at an age when you hear religious leaders preach that God wants us to be materially rich; that God wants us to have abundance in matter. It’s working for these churches as people pack in to hear this message, which seem so far from Jesus’ teachings. It’s a powerful message and justification for those who want to pursue material treasures and wealth for its own sake.
I yearn for a simple life, a life lived in the “now”, pure and spiritual, where matter has neither attraction nor power to be idolized. Thanks for your post.
Amanda did not mention about flylady.net … that to fly means to ‘finally love yourself’ … and isn’t loving yourself, identifying yourself correctly, really the key to getting rid of the clutter, rather the clutter is evidenced in your home, on your body, or specifically in your thought. Love is truly the liberator.
Thanks Evan for loving us!