One of my closest friends is a die-hard minimalist. At first, I didn’t get it at all. AT ALL!! I would laughingly call myself a “stuffalist” and just move on. More recently, however, I’ve started to realize that there may be something to this minimalist thing. And while I may never be one, I do want to begin to focus my energy on things that are of most value to me.
As a seamstress, crafter, painter, gardener, canner, etc., I tend to see the value in “things”—what they could be used for or what they could become; but, there are only so many years to live and I honestly believe that if I lived four lifetimes I would never complete all of the projects for which I have accumulated the supplies. So, it’s time to concentrate on what is of most value to me and on what I can actually accomplish.
James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” I know that this scripture is talking about wavering in one’s faith, but it just keeps coming to my mind as I’m making decisions about what it is that I want to spend my time focusing on. I started writing again (blogging—case in point); however, it does come at a cost—time! Time can only be spent once and only on one thing at a time. Deciding how to spend it can be a complicated proposition when there is SO MUCH on your plate. Changing gears isn’t always smooth and cleaning out old possessions, as well as the old dreams that cling to them, can be very-very difficult.
The first chapter of James also says in verses 5-6 that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” So, I’m asking for wisdom to know what to let go of understanding that He isn’t going to “reproach” or scold me for not innately knowing exactly what the next move should be. I’m also asking for renewed faith to believe that He still has a plan for me, whether all of the old plans came completely to fruition or not.
The fact of the matter is that seasons change—SEASONS CHANGE, PEOPLE!! They change for all of us whether we feel prepared for it to happen or not and trying to hang on to the seasons of the past does feel very much like a tempestuous storm. You can’t fight that kind of wind or row your boat in the opposite direction of the tidal waves of time. God designed it that way for our benefit, to teach us to keep moving forward in Him and to keep seeking Him for new direction and vision. The fact of the matter is that we would never “finish” anything. We’d just keeping working it, successful or not. He wants so much more than that for His children!
So, regardless of whether I feel like I have maximized the usefulness of an object, idea, or dream, I’m letting it go in light of a new season filled with new things…and cleaning out some cabinets as I go. Who knows, maybe I’ll become a minimalist yet!
If you have any thoughts on this subject, please leave them in the comments below and…
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4 thoughts on “Seasons Change, People!!”
Your newest blog post really resonated with me. It was eloquent and very timely for me. Thank you for sharing your growth and learning process with me (and everyone else lol) 😊 I have gone through many many growth spurts in the last 5 years and they seem to get more difficult each time. But I know that God is not giving me anything more than I can handle and nothing that is not necessary for His plan for my life. Always growing, always learning, and always getting stronger.
You have no idea how much that means to me. Makes me feel good to know I’m not alone in this process!! He definitely has a way of keeping us moving forward and it’s not always easy (seldom is). It’s so encouraging to read about how you’re growing, learning and getting stronger!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me (and everyone else).
Love your blog. Change is difficult to navigate, but as we release some of the old, we can firmly grasp the new.
Absolutely true, well said!! Thank you!