There is nothing like a fresh start.
Unfortunately, in todays world, we are seldom actually given a fresh start.
Today I began my new job as Senior Pastor at Pullman Foursquare Church. I spent my day reading budgets, building furniture, meeting staff and unpacking books. As I was unpacking I realized something: much of what I packed with me was junk! I packed three quarter used notepads complete with scribbling (my kids, not mine - well not all mine). I brought broken pencils, dried up pens and dead highlighters from college. And then there was the reams of paper! Anything I thought might be useful, I packed it up and brought it down the hill with me.
Now find that I have a pile of junk that I don't need and it's cluttering my new beginning.
I am such a pack rat!
How often are we given a fresh start, a new beginning, and find that the clutter of our past lives follows us? More importantly, how often does God give us a fresh start, but we, being the spiritual/ psychological pack rats that we humans are, pull out the boxes of junk that we were given freedom from?
We all need a fresh start from time to time, and fortunately for us God offers us one each day. The trick is to leave the boxes of junk in the past and move forward - enjoying our fresh start.
So - questions for you...
Have you ever been given a fresh start? Was that fresh start later spoiled by the opening of a box of junk from the past? What are some ways of dealing with spiritual/psychological clutter that you have found helpful in experiencing a fresh start each day?
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1 comment:
I completely understand this. I like stuff. I've had to admit that. Every move I pack up my stuff and settle into the new place. Then when I unpack I realize.. I don't need / want half of that stuff anymore. It's like, "why did I bring this? Am I so attached?" We're expierencing this right now too as we packed up a good portion of our "stuff" and put it into "storage" (Brandon's basement). This was to help clear out the house so we could sell. Now we've spent many months without that stuff and most of it isn't missed. Needless to say we'll be having a HUGE yard sale once we arrive at our new home to get rid of it. Sometimes you just have to GET RID OF IT!! :)
In the same sense of God giving us fresh starts. We cannot take the old with us. I've learned this. You have to retire the past "stuff" and move on to different / new "stuff." It's tough, but you feel more footloose & fancy free when ya do! :)
GOOD LUCK @ the new position!! Don't fire too many staffers. haha
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