You may have noticed my Monday Morning Blogs have been a bit sporadic in October. Today’s post explains what’s been happening in this season of the Thompson’s always changing and never boring life adventures.
When we lived in Southern California, I was blessed to have every author’s dream: a writing retreat in the mountains where I would hibernate for weeks and soak in the inspiration of God’s amazing creation. I could write quickly and profusely with no distractions and was then ready to assume my usual life roles without a deadline hanging over me when I returned home.
In the opening picture, the chair and desk in the corner is where I wrote. Yes, I positioned myself in the living room with the spectacular view of the mountains, trees, squirrels, birds, blue sky … it was my “ah-ha” writing nook. My fingers flew over the keyboard as God spoke to me through my times of prayer on the deck, reading His Words, and experiencing His masterpiece displayed in brilliant color and majesty. It’s where I’m writing this blog to you right now!
When we moved to Idaho eight years ago, we kept the cabin as a place of refuge when we visited friends and family in SoCal. It was also always a part of our retirement plan. We now feel that God is telling us it’s time to sell “the cabin.” So we’ve spent the last month there cleaning and purging much like we did when we sold our California home to move to Idaho. The big difference is that we were utilizing a moving van for our big move and this time we’re only taking what will fit in our Outback car along with suitcases!
We brainstormed renting a small U-Haul, pulling a trailer, or shipping what we wanted to take with us. Each option had a drawback and when I surveyed all the possessions I had managed to live without daily in the past fifteen years that we’ve owned the cabin, I realized there was really very little of value I need to take with me. We had already decided to sell the cabin furnished so we wouldn’t be taking any furniture.
What did I treasure so much that would be worth the cost and inconvenience of trying to get it home and then finding a place for it there? Very little!
The realtors had advised “declutter.” “Less is best when staging your home.” That was my confirmation of what God was telling me to do. So we took loads of “stuff” to the Thrift Shop at a local church that uses the funds to support missionaries. I invited neighbors and friends to come and take whatever they or their extended families could use. Quickly, I watched my “treasures” bless others.
It was freeing and exhilarating not to sell but to give away and watch their delight as they gathered up what once was so important to me.
But I have to admit that some nights I would wake up with thoughts like What have I done? Or I really could have used that at home? Or I want that back. I knew where those haunting doubts were originating and I cast Satan out of my mind. He was trying to replace the joy of giving with the angst of losing. Calm with anxiety.
God reminded me of the verse “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
That verse really hit home to me since our little cabin has survived surrounding fires when everything I might hold onto so tightly would’ve been gone had those fires reached our doorstep. We were blessed that they never did, but God now wanted me to be generous not covetous.
I’ll always have the memories of our times at this cabin and the many books I wrote there. We’ll cherish and treasure the friendships along with the irreplaceable experiences God allowed us to participate in beyond our expectations.
Is there anything you’re holding onto tightly that God wants you to let go of freely?
Have you uncluttered recently and know the freedom of not letting possessions own you?
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What would you take with you if there was limited space in your car?
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What does it mean to store up your treasures in heaven?
Good discussion questions to have with your mentee, spouse, ponder yourself, or let me know in a comment.
I’ve just spent a month going over these in my mind and praying over them, and soon we’ll find out if even the little I’m holding onto will actually fit in the car.
Here’s a virtual tour of my former writing retreat. If you know of anyone who would enjoy a restful, secluded mountain retreat, please share.
Do you have your copy yet of Everyday Brave?
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