I was thinking last night about how hard it is to let go of things we’ve come to feel are important but really are not. I actually held out my hand and said, “Take this, God. Please take this from me.” I wondered about my using the word “take”. Why couldn't I just give it freely? How hard it is to let go of some things! I think a lot of it....for me, at least....is the fear of the unknown. Letting go completely sometimes feels like closing my eyes and jumping off a cliff. The thing is, when I do that, I discover how wonderful it is to fly. I love the flying but am afraid of the jumping.
As these thoughts were going through my mind I was reminded of a poem I wrote a few years ago:
Making Room *
I’ve a box within my heart
full of things I’ve kept.
Some have caused me sorrow,
over most, I’ve wept.
full of things I’ve kept.
Some have caused me sorrow,
over most, I’ve wept.
I’ve kept it safe and hidden,
away from prying eyes.
Its lid, I would not open.
Its contents, I’d disguise.
away from prying eyes.
Its lid, I would not open.
Its contents, I’d disguise.
The Lord came by one fateful day
and offered me a gift.
“Put it in your box”, He said,
“It’s something you have missed.”
and offered me a gift.
“Put it in your box”, He said,
“It’s something you have missed.”
“I can’t” I cried, “there isn’t room
for one more thing, I fear.”
In frustration, I did weep
one great and lonely tear.
for one more thing, I fear.”
In frustration, I did weep
one great and lonely tear.
He gently wiped it from my cheek
and held me in His arms.
“I’ll help you clean it out” he said.
“You’ll come to no more harm.”
and held me in His arms.
“I’ll help you clean it out” he said.
“You’ll come to no more harm.”
“Do you need those things?” He gently asked
“You’ve hoarded through the years?
Or are they just the weapons
you used to battle fears?”
“You’ve hoarded through the years?
Or are they just the weapons
you used to battle fears?”
In faith, I went to get my box
and dumped it at His feet.
“Look at all you’ve saved,” He said
“You have no need of these.”
and dumped it at His feet.
“Look at all you’ve saved,” He said
“You have no need of these.”
Very gently, He lifted one
It was sorrow and despair.
“You don’t need these,” He said
“Get them out of there!”
It was sorrow and despair.
“You don’t need these,” He said
“Get them out of there!”
“All these things you have”, He sighed,
“the guilt, the pride, the greed.
Throw them out - get rid of them.
They aren’t the things you need.”
“the guilt, the pride, the greed.
Throw them out - get rid of them.
They aren’t the things you need.”
As we cleaned and threw things out,
the fears within me grew.
What would I do without my things?
Could I manage to get through?
the fears within me grew.
What would I do without my things?
Could I manage to get through?
“Have faith” He said to me,
“for you, I know what’s best.
Trust is me and me alone.
Get rid of all the rest.”
“for you, I know what’s best.
Trust is me and me alone.
Get rid of all the rest.”
And so I tried to dump it all,
( but I held back a few)
things I could not part with.
He smiled at me. He knew.
( but I held back a few)
things I could not part with.
He smiled at me. He knew.
My box is nearly empty
(except for those few things)
I hope that I am ready
for all the gifts He brings.
(except for those few things)
I hope that I am ready
for all the gifts He brings.
If there’s not room for all He gives,
I pray I have the will
to throw those few things out
I carry with me still.
I pray I have the will
to throw those few things out
I carry with me still.
* The Journey
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