A Day of Opportunity

A day of opportunity awaits me. To some it might just be another ordinary day but I see change. I see a blank slate on which I can write anything that I desire. It is up to me. It can be a great day or a down day. This is the day that I can recognize areas where I have plateaued and begin to climb again.  I can allow my children to frustrate me or I can see opportunities to disciple them. I will finally read that book that I have been putting off, go for that run, make that phone call, write that note of thanks, buy that gift. It is a great day. I can write a new song, patten a new idea, meet a new friend or lift someone's spirits. I can connect with one of my children, have intimate time worshipping the Lord, send a love email to my husband at work and cook a marvelkous creation for supper. Or...I could complain and rush to get the kids in bed early so that I can do what I want to do. I could go to bed tired and wake up still tired. I could look to escape through food, television or procrastination. But it won't be like that for me. It is a day of opportunity. My neck is outstretched and I am expecting. Anything is possible!

Stuff

I think yard sales are wonderful. My husband despairs when I mention that I am thinking of having a yard sale. The thought of cleaning out my closets and eliminating bins from my attic is an absolutely liberating experience for me. What's even better is to have someone else come alongside you on a cleaning out binge becasue they are even more objective than you are. Someone close who doesn't mind telling you the truth. I rememeber a visit from my older sister once to my home. We must be so weird. We think its fun to get together and clean out closets in our houses. Most girls' outings probably consist of getting mani pedis and a latte at Starbucks. Not us...nooooo. We clean out each other's closets. So, on one of her trips here she began to help me with my linen closet. It is a small narrow closet at the end of my hallway and in my house closets are cherished. We even turn little wall cubbies into closets and cover them with curtained "doors". We need closets! So, in tackling the linen/gift/laundry hamper closet I knew that many things had to go. I would generously lay aside a sheet set and say, "I'll yard sale this" to which she would shake her head, roll her eyes and pull out two more sets and emphatically state: "You only get to keep two sets per bed!" Oh I love it! This was love. This was such a help. We threw out old quilts, old pillows, old pillow cases and, yes, even a few sentimental baby items only because there are sooo many sentimental items in life that we must learn to rank our sentiments and some had to go. My closet looked beautiful. I felt like a better woman. My whole house felt cleaner and all because I got rid of some stuff. The Latin word for "stuff" is impedimentum, where we get our word impediment. That's right! Owning more stuff slows us down, it impedes our progress. This is why we study classical languages, everyope! It opens our eyes to greater truths and helps propel us on our way. This is why I love having yard sales and cleaning things out; I am no longer hindered bu clutter or things that I own. Think about it- the less we own, the less responsibility we have to maintain.  Own less, de-clutter, sell off a few things or give them away and liberate yourself! Throw off those impediments and run a little bit faster than before!

"..Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."    Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)