Boxes of Change

Why is it that change often brings about a thorough cleaning? When a person moves to a new location, they spend ample time going through boxes, dividing things into endless piles of "keep, give away, and throw away". In order for us to move forward into the new, we often times need to leave behind the old. But, before we leave behind the old, we must take time to evaluate if the "old" still has a use and a purpose. Imagine if we carried along every single physical item with us, throughout our whole lives. Many of us would need an entire house to hold all of those items. Think about all of those boxes that you have in a basement, attic or storage unit that contain items that aren't used on a regular basis. This may be because the items are of some sentimental value, are "useful" ( or at least used to be), or were so expensive to purchase, that there has to be some purpose for it!
Last weekend I had the opportunity to dive into such a project, as my mother will be moving this summer. As I sorted through all of those boxes, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions I wasn't ready for. As I paged through my sign language interpreting work books from college, I looked at my mom for an approving response to keep them. "No Sarah," she said. "That was then, this is now." It felt like a mock funeral as I threw those books and tapes in the garbage, a physical symbol that that part of my life was only apart of the journey that I'm on now.
A little bit later I came across some baby pictures, my "Cambodia Box" with all the memorabilia from that adventure, and the seven prayer journals that I have filled throughout my life. In a period of 2 hours, I saw almost my entire life laid out in boxes. Goals that I had set, and never achieved ( AKA exercise DVDs and equipment), poems I had written, photographs of experiences that I had, letters from people who have gone in and out of my life, along side a pair of earrings that I forgot I owned. As I pouted at my "give away" pile, my mother cheerfully stated "Sarah, just think of the person who will find that at Good Will! They will be so excited!". With a slight attitude, I put it back in the box, knowing full well that wonderful feeling of finding a beautiful bargain.
Our lives are filled with so much change. As I reminisced about all the changes that had taken place in my life, I was reminded of the simple yet profound truth that my relationship with Jesus Christ is the only steady, unchanging thing in my life. So often I would place value on the silliest things in this world, thinking that hanging onto those things was a means of hanging onto something more significant. In order for us to move forward in life, we must "clean house" in our lives; Sometimes this can even mean people and relationships, and that is the hardest type of "cleaning" there is.
Jesus Christ is the only person who has seen me through every single season of my life. He was along side me when I was traveling across the country, dealing with the pain of divorced parents and an absent father, "trekking out" on my own and discovering my career path. He has formed dreams in my heart, and given me the ability and knowledge to know how to pursue those dreams. Despite the fact that I have felt so alone in many of my life experiences, the truth is, He has been beside me the whole time. How I cling to this truth.
There is a popular hymn called "I Need Thee Every Hour" that has been the song of my heart.
"I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord. No tender voice like thine, can peace afford. I need thee, oh I need thee; every hour I need thee, oh bless me now my Savior, I come to thee."
May the truth of His presence in your life give you the strength to take that next step in your personal journey. May you take the time to see God's fingerprints on your life. If you are lonely, may the Lord reveal to you in a truly personal way that you are never alone. May the winds of change cause you to hang onto the steadiness of your unchanging Savior, but may He also give you the grace to be tossed and turned about, knowing that wherever you land He will guide you.

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