Happy Wednesday, Peeps!
What is on my mind lately? Stuff!! Accumulated “stuff,“ and my gratitude for people who help take care of our stuff.
I am doing the “is it trash or treasure” practice and finding it physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenging. The discriminating process itself may indeed be the final treasure.
We shall see. We are in process.
Solomon is staying amazingly steady. It must be nice to be adorable, steady and stuffed with all good stuff!
His created reality is being a stuffed animal but the projected reality is much more! As a symbol for TSJ seekers of shepherding wisdom, he points to the truth of God’s faithful, compassionate, and divinely loving Presence in all our moments.
Trash or Treasure?
At TSJ headquarters, I am holding Tom’s strong spirit close to my heart as I look through his stuff and mine, his treasures and mine. Why? We are moving forward and beginning to live into a sequel to our story here at TSJ.
Solomon, SJ, and little Lovey will continue to journey with me for two important reasons: I enjoy using them as guides for telling our “true” everyday tales and because Tom enjoyed “the boys” too. I love that about Tom. As you know.
Tom left me with two requests in his last days. One was to continue blogging about Solomon and the other was to find new headquarters that would be less demanding on me physically. He wanted to take care of that with me but his journey of just being present with us was his best gift. That is an irreplaceable treasure. (Worthy for all shepherds to consider.) Moving would have been way too stressful. Wisdom dictated what was essential for everyone’s well being. We were guided well.
We are in the process of moving in every sense of the word. It is a gentle dance with grief and memories, healing and hope. It is a process of surrender and release . . . making room for new perspectives. Coaching people in shepherding positions from parents to leaders fills my heart, so I will be seeking a place that will benefit us as TSJ peeps.
The journey has just begun. Baby steps.
Let me tell you . . . this week I am thankful for people who manage our discarded stuff from trash to outgrown treasures. Oh my! I am not even at the full blown packing stage. No. I am at the spring cleaning , getting the house ready for show stage. I have been sorting and sorting.
I am seeing how easy it is to accumulate stuff and how true that is both with objects in our surroundings and memories in our minds.
My son, Tim, and I got ready for Waste Management (our removal company) yesterday. I called to see how many bags they would allow and what they could and could not take. I had so much stuff I needed Tim’s help to carry it!
I followed the rules; even so, when they came I heard the garbage truck groan as it took in my trash. It was not a quick pick up and go. Yesterday, I taxed their services. You can imagine my joy when I saw the empty bins (picture above) at the curb.
I celebrated the relief of getting rid of stuff.
I am also appreciating all who work at donation places! My how demanding that work is as they sort and serve the public. Every time I drop my “stuff” off I breathe a sigh of relief and feel deep gratitude for them.
Why all this talk about trash or treasure? Well, because I see it as an object lesson for “deeper stuff.” We accumulate inner stuff too. We fill our minds (the house of our lives where learning takes place) with stuff like out-dated beliefs, way over used excuses for our behaviors, grudges that hang on, hurts that use up brain space meant for joy and happiness, guilt that immobilizes change, self-condemnation and false humility etc. Negative things are dense in nature and absorb energy best used for our spirits to soar! You know this already.
What inner stuff is stifling you? Who can be your trusted mental/emotional trash collectors and recyclers?
So many of you TSJ peeps have held my tears, listened to my wails of helplessness and fears, refrained from giving advice and trusted me to find my own inner space. My siblings, children, old friends and church family top that list and I am deeply grateful to all. I feel like I just may have the best “waste management” team ever.
Finally, I found a card that came with an object I treasure (an elephant already named “Daisy”- brought back from Uganda). The elephant is a wonderful gift from years ago. However, the message my sister-in-law , Carole, wrote is a “keeper” – mostly a personal encouragement for me – but it also contained a message Solomon wanted me to share with all of you:
“No experience (good, bad or ugly) in our life is wasted. God is the great recycler!”
Yes, I am learning that everything temporal eventually becomes trash sooner or later, but our presence in people’s lives just may become their eternal treasures. The Chief Shepherd knows how to manage our inner accumulated stuff, like Carole so eloquently said. We also can be the Shepherd’s dedicated understudies.
Happy shepherding today,
Margie and Solomon
