More of Him, less of me.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
While packing for a 10-day trip to
California, I sifted through my closet(s) and pulled out an assortment of
dresses, shorts, and blouses for a total of 11 outfits. One outfit for each day
I'm away from home and one extra because...well because I can. We all know
styling isn't complete without shoes and jewelry, so I began searching for the
accessories that would accent the clothes that were already tightly stowed in my
over-sized suitcase. At that moment I paused to acknowledge that I always
travel with more than I actually need. My suitcase isn't just full, but
overflowing with excess.
This example served as a visual
representation of the bigger lesson that God has been continually placing on my
heart and mind for several weeks.
Compared to the entire world population I
live a very comfortable and even luxurious life.
I would dare to say that excess has impaired
our frame of reference in America. Excess food, possessions, spending, waste,
media, and stress. As a result the line between my wants and needs have become
blurred.
In an effort to simply my life and reduce
emphasis on "stuff", I began a 6 month personal challenge against
excess on July 1st.
Here are the ground rules:
- No articles of clothing, scarves, handbags, shoes, or jewelry can be purchased until January 1st, 2014.
- Others are not allowed to purchase the items above and give them to me. That would be cheating. But all other gifts will be accepted...hint hint.
- My friends and family will serve as the jury and are to hold me accountable. *Special counseling may be needed during Victoria Secret Semi-Annual Sale and the transition from the summer to autumn shopping season.
- If a problem or question arises, I must consult the jury for a proper ruling.
- Quitting is not permissible.
Simple enough?
Yeah, it sounds like torture to me too.
However, I'm hopeful that this experiment
will remind me to come constantly with a thankful heart for all my needs have
already been met.
More of Him, less of me.
-jpr-
