This quote is from the founder of Rent the Runway, who had a vision to change the way women use their closets. No longer as a place just to store random items of clothing that we will never wear! Her vision is to make a way for people to get more out of their clothing and have a shared closet with others around the world. I cannot claim to know all of the details. In all reality, I was just searching for a quote that struck me about a closet for my own little story.
I chose this quote because I was struck by the reality that we often settle for things that don’t fit us. We get tired of searching, waiting, and the hassle of trying on another thing! I admit it that I have a strong love for getting rid of things. I don’t know why, but often I will get in a spring cleaning mood and will start tackling those hidden places. It probably stems from my need to control the chaos of life. The things I been through have caused me to be hypersensitive to mess.
I desire a great deal to bring order to out of control situations. When I was a small girl, probably nine or so I wrote a prayer that my granny found and she told me what it said, “God please help me to get a hang of my life.” My granny tucked that prayer away and showed me as an adult. For such a young child, I knew my chaotic life and upbringing was not normal! I deeply wanted to fix things for everyone. It became a weakness, because I have often tried to fix people that have no interest in changing.
My children and a large black trash bag hate to see me coming! I go into those places and I tackle the mess. I just want things to be orderly and neat. I often say, “Out with the old and in with the new!” I feel that cleaning out our spaces often leads to more contentment. We give away what no longer serves us and create space for new things to come in. Never hold too tightly to anything my friends. I can speak from many lessons on this matter.
“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will loose it, and but whoever looses his life will keep it.” Luke 17:33 (ESV)
The things that we get too attached to can become a dangerous place to be in when we are desiring to serve God fully. The desire to control outcomes, clinging to worldly possessions can lead to a deficit in all reality. We can find ourselves putting integrity on the back burner and living a life that is actually self centered. I can speak on it because I’ve been there! Jesus isn’t saying go be a martyr necessarily but to hold our possessions, status, and lives lightly as all of it is fleeting. We cannot take anything with us when we leave this place.
There was a time in my life that I was wanting to go in a different direction. I really didn’t know what I should do I wrote in my journal the options before me. I was living in a crappy apartment with my young son, it was just the two of us then. I wanted to leave that apartment but I really didn’t have a full proof plan. I decided that after praying about what I was sensing in my heart, that it was time to move. I said okay God, I’m going to show my faith in action. I went into my closet and began packing things up.
As I was sitting on the floor in the closet going through my things I was singing worship songs to God. I ran out of songs to sing and then the phrase came into my mind “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” I thought well that’s a weird song, but somehow I just knew it was a song. I had never heard this song before. I stopped packing and went to look up the song on YouTube. While searching, I was wondering why God gave me a song? Then I found the song! It was sung by Simon and Garfunkel from the 70s! I had never even heard of these strange men either.
The song was hauntingly beautiful the lyrics were as if a pledge of friendship, love, and protection. It was like God had just stepped into my mess and gave me hope and encouragement. I couldn’t believe it! I began packing even faster trusting, that no matter what God would be with me through it all. I made my bed hard many times but God never failed me. He stayed by my side.
The life of a child of God has many transitions, and I’m learning it’s a long journey but one of great hope. We learn to surrender, sacrifice, and shift our identity as we grow from faith to faith. We learn to let go of our ego, control, and what we think life should look like. As we age we find a much deeper meaning in the simple things. We appreciate things much more as we mature. Our true sense of security comes from a deep trusting that things will work out as they should. We do the best we can and leave the rest up to God.
How many of us keep that tiny outfit, saying well I will get back into it or we hold so tight to things that are outdated. What about the old and outdated thoughts we carry? Often times we are trying to maintain a version of ourselves that no longer exists. Our closets can represent our identity. The story in the Bible of Lot’s wife who turned back to look at what she was leaving behind. God told her not to look back and she lost her life instantly. That act of disobedience served as a reminder to all of us that we don’t need to look at what is lost!
There are things that must die in the life of a Christian. We must die to self and our fleshly desires. When we cling too tightly to things it shows our lack of trust that God meets our needs, or that he knows it hurt to let go sometimes. What are you needing to let go of today?
Oh friend I’m right there with you, I am learning to let go of so many things. It is painful but so worth it in the end!
On a side note, when I left that crappy apartment, I never once missed it! I moved on to better, I began to see what life could be and I’m still learning this lesson! Keep moving forward!
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