Blizzards and Packing
A week from today (weather permitting!) I will be on my way to Arizona.
I read a quote this week from Mother Teresa that seemed to fit the process I am in.
“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.”
There was a huge snow storm in Indiana this week- the most snow I have seen in awhile! The result of this was two free days to sort through my belongings and decide what to keep and what to give away; what to leave here and what to bring along. I’m afraid I’m not a terribly simple person- or a light packer on trips. I convince myself that I simply cannot live without things and bring them along with me everywhere. (Ask my family- I always have way more than I need in any given situation!)
I am limited in my packing to a very small Honda Civic. (It feels smaller, the closer the time to leave comes!) I have packed up everything I think I will need and I’m POSITIVE it will not all fit. I keep looking at my pile and looking at my car…and there’s no way!
Each step of this journey has opened my eyes to new things about God and myself and the world around me. This week I’m being forced to consider what I actually need, and believe me, it is far less than I own. The time I have spent sorting, packing, cleaning, (and now re-sorting and re-packing to fit!) is time I could have spent with people I won’t see again for months. “Stuff” is such a silly thing to waste time on.
The less you have, the more free you are.
Free for things like my relationship with my heavenly Father, spending time with my friends and family, learning new things about the world around me…
Everything I will have in Arizona for eight months has to fit in my car. I’m excited to experience the freedom of less bringing more of other things.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
thenavajojourney.com 
January 13, 2014 at 6:20 am
How true, Ruthanne! Good reminder for all of us. Reminds me of a statement made by a godly man in a Sunday School class years ago: We get what we can, we can what we get and sit on the lid. Why do we think we need so much stuff?!?!?! Praying for you – this is a big week!