Shelter in Place, Self-Quarantine, Social Distancing…it’s given me time to reflect. Today I remembered a much simpler time in my life. I was probably 6 or 7 years old and my parents were at the department store. We shopped at K-Mart a lot. Each time we went to K-Mart (or any store) my mother would tell my brother and me that there was no extra money and to not ask for anything…and we didn’t. Back then, people paid with either cash or check. Rarely were credit cards used. My parents didn’t believe in credit cards anyway so they either used cash or check. At some point during my shopping experience, I would ask my mom if she was paying with cash. I was particularly delighted when she said yes, because I knew there would likely be change. That change would be an opportunity to buy a 1 cent piece of gum in the machine. It was the highlight of my shopping day. Children could be bought for so little then.
As time goes on and children become adults, the joys seem to be more expensive. What once was only a penny for the gum machine is now thousands of pennies of accumulated “stuff.” During the shelter in place, I have been able to take inventory of my “stuff,” both physically and emotionally. For me, it’s much easier to work through the physical stuff than it is the emotional stuff that has accumulated. That takes real work and to be honest, dealing with the physical unloading is a good distraction and excuse to not deal with the emotional baggage. Visualizing the new space in a closet or garage is fulfilling, whereas, the other isn’t quite as clear cut.
I think that’s where meditation has a real purpose. Just some quiet time to check in with all the systems: physical, emotional, and spiritual has real value in clearing what has been conditioned over time. Each day, I learn something new about myself. Life has been an evolvement of puzzle pieces that are uniquely mine. Often times, it’s easy to struggle to find that piece that just isn’t fitting or seems missing. Looking all around for that missing piece, when suddenly, it’s right there in front of my eyes. Each piece of that puzzle represents joys, excitement, happiness, struggles, anger, disappointment, defeat, brokenness, faithfulness, and so on. How often I think of letting go and allowing God….yet, in a world of brokenness, I want control over my own little world. It is a daily fight to allow God to do His work and remind myself to simply flow into the next scene and live that moment.
Each person has gifts we bring to our world and the people in it. Some are really good at seeing a problem and finding a solution, while others need to sit with the problem and reflect on possible solutions. There are people who are really good at forecasting and planning for the future, while others simply can’t see past their noses. I think we need each type of person to help balance and enrich the lives of others. Because of my own experiences, I’ve learned to ease up on the control I once thought to be so important. There’s that saying “everything happens for a reason,” yet, I wonder…. My human mind just isn’t able to understand all that occurs in life when there is a God that can make all things new.
Perhaps I needed this Shelter in Place for my own emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Perhaps this was the “reason” and the season to take a good look inside of all the junk I’ve accumulated and purge those things that are no longer useful for me. I know I have some clothes I need to discard, but I just keeping thinking they will come back in style…..LOL! I can’t go back to the days of penny gum machines, but I can go forward and trust that I will be taken care of and looked after by a Heavenly Father who knows every hair on my head. I choose to trust that each day has purpose and will seek to assist others on their own journey.
I invite you, the reader, to also reflect on what you hold near and dear. In doing so, perhaps you will uncover something that is no longer useful to you. It’s okay to let things go; because if our space is too full, then there’s no room for new things life has to offer.
Health Bite: Use Shelter In Place to Purge: Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually