Jimbo's Jots

A moment of confession . . . we, as in my family and I, watch Hoarders. It’s like watching an accident happening right in front of you. You can’t stop and you feel a sense of “out of control”. So we watch!

In 2009, after dad had passed away, mom decided that she wanted to sell the house. So the process of clearing out over 40 years of living in the house happened. Actually, it had kind of been ongoing for about at least 10 years previously. When my wife, daughters and I would go visit, we would tackle a part of the house to clean out.

Several years ago, I went through my office and started to whittle out the books that I no longer used and needed any more. I’ve tried to give them away, but they sit in boxes in my office. Most likely, they will be out of my office soon, even if I have to donate to a library for recycling.

When and if you watch the show Hoarders, you quickly notice that somewhere in the past the person felt that they had lost something. The hoarding, storing, and purchasing became a way to “control” the anxiety until it got out of control.

I wonder if we sometimes get this way spiritually and mentally. Do we feel things are piling up to the point that there is no turning back? In seeing there is a problem, they also are not able to see a way out. So they hold on to what they know to be “safe”, which, if you watch the show, actually presents a danger.

Maybe it’s what Paul was saying in Philippians 3:

I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. (v. 7-8, The Message)

The is Paul who opens this part of his letter to the Philippian church by listing his credentials. He says that it’s a pile of trash!! Paul says, “I’m cleaning house! I’m dumping the things that I held onto for a great reward!”

Maybe it’s time to clean the mental or spiritual house! If you need some help there, I have an open door and a few “trash bags” that you can use!!

Be blessed!! Be a blessing to others – they may be cleaning house!

P.S. I’m cleaning my desk off as I finish writing this!! I can see a table top!