It's Not Trash--It's a Treasure

I have been feeling burdened by all our belongings accumulated over the years. When I think of the cupboards and drawers and chests full of photo albums, dishes,  music, and just assorted stuff, I feel overwhelmed.  And sometimes I feel sad as I look at the mementos that bring back memories from the years of our lives--and also of our parents' lives.  Because there are also journals from Jim's father and photos from my parents and music and books from both sides of the families.  It's three generations of stuff, including stuff our kids left behind--everything from toys to prom souvenirs to graduation robes.

But there has also been great joy in realizing that what we must discard can bring joy to others.  The first book give-away at church was great; I loved seeing our friends leave with our books in their hands.  Another one will take place soon with even more books.  Notre Dame graduate students have taken bags of commentaries and dictionaries from Jim's collection.  The foosball game, the electric typewriter, the 50 year old Singer sewing machine, and the barbells have found new homes.  My friends in our women's Bible study "shopped" from the back seat of our car and left with items ranging from a Dutch oven to a small cooler to a espresso machine. 

Tonight the photo a friend sent of her three little girls delighting in our old typewriter made me smile.  I am so grateful that our things can be used and enjoyed by others.

Progress

We are making progress in our decision to downsize and sell our house.  Faith Fleming, our realtor, was here yesterday and had worked up an estimate.  We talked about what needs to be done in the house (not much!) and a timetable for selling.

Faith suggested putting the house on the market in mid-March with the stipulation that we would not move out until early June.  It is early for Notre Dame hires coming in but she said that there are folks who came in last year and are renting while looking for the right house.  A house down the road sold in three days!  May we be so blessed!

Laura's artwork

I felt overwhelmed again after she left.  But I went through the kitchen and our bedroom and took her suggestion to get everything off the floor and counters-or at least 2/3 of what was there.  It was not an impossible task!  The dining room is already pretty uncluttered and so is the living room except for my music which can be easily put away.

Jeff's favorite puzzle

The family room will need work because that is where we spend most of our time.  Faith suggested keeping an empty bin and when showings are scheduled, dump everything it it for the time being.  The upstairs bedrooms should not be too difficult to "stage."  The basement rooms are another story--no pun intended.  Faith has listed the "train room" as a potential fifth bedroom but it sure doesn't look like it now with golf bags, Jim's dad's diaries, an old kitchen cabinet, and even a dresser left by the last owners--let alone Jim's train set filling every bit of space.

I have started a box of books for our second book give-away at church.  I have another box of household stuff that I can offer to my friends at Bible Study and then send the rest with Mary Brown who donates to a thrift shop in Niles.  And what really makes me happy is that Cyn Haas asked if her daughter who is moving from a one bedroom apartment to a five bedroom house could have first dibs on buying furniture.  We have no need to sell things but would love to have them take the bunk beds and the canopy bedroom suite and several chairs and a desk.  I love the idea of another little girl, Cyn's grand-daughter, enjoying the sturdy yellow furniture we bought used years ago--and is good for a lifetime ahead I think.

I'm happy to write that Jim cleared off one desk downstairs and has begun working on another one.  He gave away some books this week and is making plans to give away others.  There are many many more to go but he is making progress!

I was surprised at how definite Jim was about deciding to go with Faith's suggestions.  We agreed however that we are finished with being home owners and ready to rent--probably in Princeton.  But that will be the next big decision.  I hope our house sells quickly so we have time to get rid of more stuff and look for places to live at our leisure.

Reflecting on Last Sunday

 Bible Study was cancelled because of icy roads and thus a school delay.  My new student Christopher at Hope Ministries left over the weekend so that is the sad end of what looked promising after last week's initial session. My long time student Malissa postponed her lesson because she has to work late.  Jim took the car-now our only car- to Notre Dame and will go to Martin's for a few items.

So it is a good time to reflect on last Sunday and why it is so hard to leave our church--probably the hardest part about leaving this area for me at least.

Adult church school was led by John Dendiu and focused on ways of reading Scripture.  We practiced breath prayers and "lectio divina."  I used "he restoreth my soul" as my breath prayer and "that the boat was already filling up"  from Mark 4 in the story of Jesus calming the wind and the waves as my phrase for lectio divina.  I took it as a metaphor for my brain which fills up with too much stuff when I lie awake! I have done both of these methods on my own but there was something quite moving and profound about a room of my friends all meditating and praying at the same time.

Pastor Chris Rea led the liturgy with words about the importance of confession.  We sang great songs with organ and with band with enthusiasm--we are a singing congregation and we have good leaders.  Chris's  sermon was based on the lectionary for this Sunday and challenged us to surrender ourselves to Christ as did Isaiah and Peter.

We almost always socialize for quite a while after church.  This week I was able to give Kelly two disk sleds for her boys and an aquatint to Anita who admired it--all part of my purging the house.

The evening service Mosaic is held once a month.  It was an open mike night--probably our first.  I am always a bit apprehensive about that kind of thing but was ready to contribute if others did not.  However, plenty of others did--from little N who brought tears to my eyes when she said, "I always have trouble with multiplication.  I prayed about it and I got a 58."  I assume that is a good score!  Others were thankful for our church, for family, for a good weekend with youth at Winter Blast.  The requests came from worshipers ages 6 to 70 and were examples of vulnerability and needs.  We sang favorite songs "In Christ Alone" and "To Him Who is Able to Keep You."

 We participated in the Lord's Supper and I took the bread from a first time deacon Steve who I heard was apprehensive about doing so but I am sure he was touched--as I always was when it was my time to serve.  I couldn't sing the last acapella Amens because of my tears especially as I noticed Pastor Chris with one arm around someone who was probably feeling very emotional about that particular song and the other arm lifted in praise--not a typical gesture in our more reserved congregation.

And then there was the chili cook off with lots to try and more friends to talk to--and a chance to give away soup bowls and lids to Lisa and Mardi Gras beads to Julia's children.  Good homes for the stuff we need to pass on!

So how can we find another church like this one?  We can't.  We have always found churches in which we can worship and serve and I assume we will again but Church of the Savior in South Bend is one of a kind and we will miss it greatly.