We have been in our house for over 13 years. During that time, we have collected a lot of memories and other things. We have worked diligently with our four kids on regular clean out and decluttering. We make regular trips to the Salvation Army resale shop with the treasures that we no longer use. We have also had the added collections from my parents and my in-laws. Lots of memories that are challenging to know what to do with. I don’t want it, but I don’t want to get rid of it, either. Despite our best efforts, we have managed to accumulate a good deal of clutter in the 13 years here.
As I sort through boxes and boxes of photos (yes, prints, not digital), not to mention the 40,000 or so digital photos, I have to wonder, “Why?” Do I really need to keep 22 photos of the same flower? Do I need any photos of that flower? Am I ever going to use it for anything? Is anyone after me going to care? But it was a neat flower in my mom’s garden. My mom loved her flower garden. OK… I’ll keep one or two. But this one is from a different angle and shows a different aspect of the flower and her garden. And in this one, you can see the dog in the background. After careful evaluation, all 22 photos are different and must be kept.
OK… so I’m exaggerating a bit, but as I think about it, how much of our physical space, resources, and mental energy is invested into maintaining the past? Remembering the past is important. It is vital to remember where we came from, the struggles we had, and the victories we enjoyed. The times that made us sad or angry and the times that made us love and laugh. All of this is what made us who we are and has shaped our perspective on life. But, sometimes, we spend too much of our lives invested in the past and put very little effort into the now and the yet to come.
In Philippians 3, Paul writes about his past, the things he has done, and his goals. Then he writes…
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 12-14, NIV
Forgetting the failures, the struggles, the things that had a negative impact on our lives and pressing on to the goal. Learn from the past, but you cannot change what you have done (or didn’t do). As much as we would like, we cannot go back in time, not even one second, and change anything about our past. Too many people make mistakes and never learn to forgive themselves. They stay focused on the past and never look forward. They do not understand forgiveness. Forgetting the past and press on to the goal.
Forgetting the victories, the great stories, the things we love to talk about, and pressing on to the goal. I love to talk about my younger days and my soccer “career”. I played a lot of soccer and was pretty good, being invited to play on our all-city all-star team in an out-of-town tournament when I was in 7th grade (also one of my negative memories because I didn’t get to go on the trip, but that’s another story… I was asked to play and that’s all that matters). I love talking about all the artists I have had the pleasure of working with as an audio engineer. The fun shows and concerts I’ve enjoyed working, and the people I have been able to meet. But I don’t play soccer now, and those concerts are over. The only show that matters is the next show. Forgetting the past and pressing on to the goal.
How much time do you invest in maintaining the past? How much of your conversation is about how good or bad things used to be? How much of your house is filled with relics from the past life? How much of your hard drive space is filled with old memories? While there is value in maintaining some of that and passing those stories on to our children and our children’s children, we must continue to press on to the goal.
Sixandahalfdays is about living life every day. Pressing on to the goal. Creating more memories and living the life God has called us to live every day. A life full of faith, family, and fun.
What are some things you are holding on to? What is holding you back? What are your goals?
I’m not too concerned about my clutter from days gone by. Looking back is often more entertaining than television, and we can learn through history—even our own. When I’m old, remembering may be all I can physically do, and staring at a picture of one of Mom’s flowers may be better medicine than what the doctor ordered. My goal is to clutter tastefully, if that’s possible. Teehee!