Letting Go

As I continue to sort through stacks around our house—deciding what stays and what goes—I find it’s harder than I think to release some things. The things that are still in good shape, or I should use but don’t. The things that I think will make me a better person if I do use them…but still I don’t.

As I am tempted to grip these things rather than release them I think about Jesus. Nowhere in his life do any of the Gospels mention Jesus’ possessions—his cute weekender bag that he travelled around with, his journal that he jotted down the sermon on the mount, his snacks that he multiplied to share with others. I don’t know what Jesus had, though I suspect not much given the topics of his teaching. I think Jesus might even roll his eyes at me as I wonder if I should keep all of these things to make my life better—more productive, healthier, cleaner, holier. Holier, as if something aside from Jesus is the answer.

Let it go, I hear him saying. And little by little I do. Though it’s still harder than I care to admit.