Sunday, January 27, 2008

Dismantle the Ancient Scaffolding

Today Leta asked me if I would part with The Book of Miso and The Book of Tofu - two of the cookbooks that were so crucial to my adaptation to Japan. The cookbooks of her childhood. My first thought was "Oh dear. I'll have to track down some used copies for her."

But why? I haven't used mine in years. Sarah, and now Mary, make the Japanese meals these days. And they use Orange Page.

My house is full unsorted corners filled with things needing to be culled. Although all of it was important once upon a time. Sigh....

It reminds me of a paragraph I read last night:

Perhaps the time has come for us to dismantle the ancient scaffolding that clutters our lives, homes and churches. Like Martha, we are anxious and distracted by many things, "but one thing is needful." Like Mary, we must choose "that good part" which can never be taken from us.

Warren Wiersbe's "God Isn't In a Hurry"

Of course, the key thing is making time for what matters. If I spend all my time sorting I won't have gained anything!

8 comments:

Matthew Celestine said...

Yes, it can be difficult parting with old things.

Willardsdaughter said...

Set a timer and just do it 15 minutes at a time. You'll be surprised how much you can do in that time. You're onto a very key thing - getting rid of things that were once meaningful, but are now clutter! You've challenged me to look through my own cookbooks!
Key questions: Does this item make me smile? Could it bless someone else?
Go, Laurie!

Laurie Elliot said...

You're absolutely right, Linda, 15 minutes at a time!

And yes, Matthew, it is VERY HARD to part with old things when the memories are literally dripping off them.

Anonymous said...

Forgive any seeming impudence, Aunt Laurie, but I didn't know memories could literally drip off of anything.

Anonymous said...

I'd better hurriedly take credit for that last one in case you were to mistakenly suspect one of my sisters.

Sarah Mae

Laurie Elliot said...

Well, my dear niece, I must admit to some uneasiness about the choice of words on my part even as I wrote it... my English is slipping! I suppose I should have said "figuratively dripping off?"

And what do YOU say when an object is obviously past its prime to all other observers but the owner's true vision is obstructed by memories of the object's former usefulness/dearness.

Anonymous said...

Oh...I never have to worry about that. You see, I'm not old enough yet. :) SMM

Faith said...

I read this while taking a break from clearing off counters... Having moved into an apartment 2 1/2 years ago makes me much more aware of how cluttered life can get. I am limited now with what I can keep--though there is still stuff out at our storage space that NEEDS to be dealt with!