After reading Floyd’s post for this week, I started thinking about what used to be but is no longer important to me. I would like to believe I have grown up some from the days when some things were so-o-o-o important to me I would “die for them.”
Back when I was in 9th grade, I started playing organized basketball. I was bad. Tall but absolutely no talent whatsoever. I was better at kicking a basketball than dribbling it. Fast forward a few years and my abilities improved. I still pretty much sat the bench as a high school senior and I could give you all sorts of “reasons” why. But that is not important. Fast forward to college where I began to put things together (except academically). By the time I was a Junior I was setting records and recording an average of 20 points and 15 rebounds/game. All as a 6’3 1/2″ center. (I am now 6’5″ but don’t ask me how that happened). Over the three years I played (I got married and decided it might be wiser to study than play as a senior), I had amassed some hardware (trophies). I lugged them around from church to church for a few years, sometimes taking them out of the box, but most often leaving them put away. They were reminders to me of what once was. What I once was. Every once in a while wondering why in the world I didn’t play my last year. I found out years later my dad had been told some scouts had come to watch me play (if the other person is to be believed and it is suspect). If true they found out what I already knew: I may have been an okay player, but no way could I have ever been a professional (the reasons are numerous).
Then one day I threw them all away. I was tired of lugging around memories of the past. Memories of what once was and would could never be again. Funny thing is I had not thought about those trophies at all until I read Floyd’s post.
Letting go of the past is hard sometimes. In my case it was a no-brainer. Too bad letting go of other bad memories is not quite so easy to do. Maybe it is time for you to let go of some past memories which are seared into your brain but only drag you down and have you longing for something better.
God does offer you something much better. Freedom. Hope. Love. Grace. And the sheer joy of moving on.
There have been a few moments in my life where I have purged myself of some things that I had carried around and believed were important. Now, for the life of me, I can remember none of them. That probably tells you something about how truly important they were.
It does say something Daniel. It says you purged your life of things which didn’t matter.
I don’t give two hoots for God’s Freedom, hope, love or grace. I feel quite fine without it. I too had my share of trophies back in the day. I kept the little engraved plate on them and donated the rest to charity races. My game was racing motorcycles although in school I excelled in basketball and baseball. I still enjoy the racing game albeit as a spectator. I have moved on, from competing but I haven’t lost the pleasure of the competition nor the excitement of the game. God doesn’t offer me anything better than the memories or the friends I have from those years. I have moved on but I haven’t moved away from those friends and those memories.
There is much to be said about friends and those memories. Nothing wrong with that,especially of they are good friends and good memories.
I’m with you, Bill. I tossed all of my old stuff that I once used to define me. Pretty pathetic when we let the world’s means of measuring and defining a person into our life. Who we belong to is our true identity.
Glad to help you drudge up some excellent thoughts. Thanks, Bill.
You totally understand where I am coming from Floyd.
Great advice Bill…there is great freedom when you let go of things that hold no eternal value and only clutter up our houses and mind. We moved this past week and I got rid of so much that was useless really, things that sit in a box all the time, not used, just sit…useless. Good post brother.
moving is a great time to declutter. If you are like me then you wonder “How in the world did I get this way?” and “why did I allow it?” Thanks Betty.
I am not overly sentimental over things, but memories are another thing. God’s grace has freed me from some things that held me back.
God’s grace has freed me from a lot of things as well Larry.
You are right–letting go IS hard, Bill. I have found it especially so following our latest move–and I don’t know why. We have an active church, wonderful, caring congregation, beautiful location–and yet, I have clung to the past, which wasn’t even all that great in some aspects. Your post and Floyd’s have really helped me “get a grip” on the present–which is where I need to put myself! Thanks for sharing!
I’d like to think I’m pretty good at this though I know I’m only human. I give forgiveness as freely as I can so would like to get it as well. Always room for improvement.
I am an emotional pack rat.. it’s hard for me to let go of things.. the thought of getting rid of old trophies is just torture to me, lol..
It is so ironic how some things that were oh, so important to us when we were younger no longer seem relevant to our lives. I think it’s because God is always calling us forward and doesn’t want past accomplishments or possessions weigh down or hinder our progress toward becoming more like Jesus. If we hang onto things, (or past hurts) we can’t hang onto God.
Blessings, Bill!