How many phone books does one family need?

My life this week has been in a turmoil. I am getting all new flooring, and I had to move all my “stuff” out of the dining room and one bedroom this week so the workers could get started.

It amazed me that my husband and I could have gathered so much in the 13 years we have lived in this home.

I thought we were a balanced couple. He collects things and I throw things away. I can usually keep our belongings to a minimum but this experience has shown me that a good purging is going to be necessary before we get ready for the rest of the flooring to be installed in a couple of weeks.

For example, how many phone books does one family really need, and how did I get a whole set of green glasses when my dish set is blue?

I seem to have about 20 table cloths that haven’t seen a table in years and if I own 25 pot holders, why do I use the same two over and over?

I believe it is good for everyone to shake things up occasionally and analyze their lives in terms of what is really important to their existence.

This concept works in your spiritual life also. Taking a good look at why you worship God and how you carry out that worship is sometimes eye opening.

I know that I get up every Sunday morning and automatically start getting ready for church. I have a set routine in my preparations and a set liturgy at church.

I do try to keep it interesting for my congregation by adding and subtracting things from the service so that they aren’t bored, but I also need to remember that it isn’t what I do in the service that creates meaning for them.

I am just the messenger. It is their interaction with God that gives purpose to their worship.

As Christians, we all need to lose traditions that really have no meaning and add things that bring us spiritually closer to God.

One of those things for me is music. Even though I am a Methodist minister, I still long for the Pentecostal music of my youth. It fills my soul and carries me straight to my Creator.

We all have our own way of reaching God and I wish you success in finding yours.