Post 4: Let It Go

One of the most difficult aspects of aging is knowing when to let go of something precious. It's an important part of aging well. It can also be a gift.

My first huge letting go was retirement. I left a ministry that I loved and a place and people that brought me great joy to return to a country that was not my own. To a church where I knew few people. Even though they knew my name, they didn't know all of me.  Even today, 20 years later, very few know the details of who I was and what I did when I lived overseas.

When my husband and I left France permanently, we brought back what we could of our adult life in Europe in a container. I clearly remember laying hands on it before a truck hauled away all our earthly goods and asking God not to let it fall off the ship. I struggle to find words to describe my emotions at the time. Joy that I could take something of our old life into the new one, and realizing the contents represented thirty-eight years of memories.

If you walked into my apartment today, you’d see the "sacred objects" that still connect me to my past. The French bookshelf saved from a burn pile in the 17^th century castle where we worked. The painting my father created of a rainbow over stormy seas—it holds profound meaning for me. And a Christmastime, you’d see the crèche (manger scene) I’ve set up every year for decades—which Michèle insisted on accessorizing with a satellite dish any time I looked away. Every item in my home is wrapped in memories.

Yet empty-nesting, downsizing, and moving into a smaller space have forced me to sort and discard some of the objects I’ve held onto for years. Such an endeavor can be a difficult. I know many of you have experienced it too.

So how do we approach it?

1. "In acceptance lieth peace." (Amy Carmichael) Acceptance is almost a daily experience.
2. Start early in giving things away, or donating to the local thrift store, or selling on the internet. Just a few items a week can make it feel less painful.
3. Be prepared for your relatives not to want the family china or silverware, the pot holders that your grandma crocheted, and other items you love that they consider "old fashioned."
4. My first question is always, "Do I still have an emotional attachment to this?" It still surprises me that we grow less attached with time. 
5. When going through photos, if my family has no connection and will not know the place or the people, I know it's time to "Let it go".
6. If you haven't worn an item of clothing in over a year, "Let it go".

Many years ago I saw a cartoon that reflected my way of thinking about "things." It was a hearse pulling a U-haul trailer. Are we holding things too tightly? Is it time to let them go? Are we loving things less and loving Jesus more? Are we using our waning energy by investing it in God's concerns?

Look around you. If you have been blessed with beautiful, nostalgic "things," be grateful and enjoy them while you can, while remembering that you can't take them with you.

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) Our deepest passions, affections, and priorities align with what we value most—whether material wealth or spiritual, heavenly treasures. 

Where is my treasure?

Where is yours?