Don’t judge me. I still had most of the files filled with my notes from college courses. Don’t worry. They’re gone now.
As I cleaned out my office I got rid of books that I would probably never open again. Boxes and boxes filled with files went to the recycling bin. There was probably stuff in there I could possibly use again someday. But the possibility was very slim, so away it went.
When the time comes to move 1000 miles away the choice to “keep” or “pitch” becomes much easier. I went through class notes, memento files, old bulletins and church services, art work from my kids (Don’t worry kids, I kept it), newspaper clippings, things that I had at one time neatly organized but were never looked at aging, files of things I thought I’d one day do…but never did.
By the time all was said and done I nearly filled a recycling dumpster, and half-filled a garbage dumpster. It’s amazing what the motivation of avoiding lifting heavy boxes will do.
The day of dishing out fuel for our local recycling plant was a trip not just down memory lane, but memory avenue, memory boulevard, memory court, and memory highway. I went places in my mind that I hadn’t been in years. There I was sitting in Professor Berg’s Communications class. Next I was standing at the altar for my installation as pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Pretty soon I was sitting in the youth room with the high school kids in Virginia. After that I watched my children grow from toddlers to teens.
Before I knew it, half my life was in the dumpster. Thankfully, only figuratively.
Some of my life has certainly been only dumpster worthy. But thanks to a wonderful upbringing, an incredible wife and family, faithful friends, and members of churches I have had the privilege to serve, in the end it was really only paper and cardboard in the dumpster.
What really matters isn’t the paper upon which things are recorded. What really matters is the love of people who care and help create memories. The notes might be in the dumpster, but the memories live on. And they’re great memories. They’re memories I wouldn’t trade for the world. They’re memories that have helped make me who I am. For that I am grateful.
My life may figuratively be in a dumpster, but it is literally a treasure. It is an undeserved gift. And so are all the people whose presence in my life remind me of that. They are far too many to count.
I guess the next time I need to know how to graph the way a message is communicated, I’ll have to Google it.
What is it that makes you thankful for your deepest and most precious memories?
Nice post, as always. I've been thinking about projects for the summer, while on break from my full-time job. One of them is to go through lots of papers/books/etc. and get rid of what I don't really need to keep. It's hard to depart with "things" that give you good memories, but that's just what they are: things. The memories are still there. Some things may seem too precious to throw away (the children's art work, recital programs, etc), but I'm certain that I'll be able to depart with many things that aren't so important. Even though I don't plan on moving anytime soon, some of it is just becoming clutter and I think my life will feel less cluttered without it. Some of my precious memories are: my senior recital in college, getting married, the births of my two children, Leah and Brad, watching them grow up, giving my Dad a massage when he was in pain, the precious moments with my Mom during her last years when she had Alzheimers, accompanying my daughter when she played the piano and cello, attending Leah's recitals in college and grad school, watching Brad play soccer and other sports, spending quality time with my son and watching him become the man he is today, opening day for my husband's Optometric practice….. I could go on, but I'm afraid I've gone on too long already. We all have many precious memories of our lives. Of course, there have been difficult times too and faith in God has helped me get through those tough times.
I look forward to your arrival. Safe travels.
Funny you should mention the purging. I have been doing that lately, myself! After taking a new position I have been going thru my old "cling-ons" from previous positions and pitching what I once thought was info that I couldn't live without. Last week I came across a 5 inch binder packed to the gills with 2 years of notes and projects that I had accumulated while on the council in a previous church in TN. It was great reminiscing. The info was no longer important to my life now, but in reflection, I know it laid the ground work for what is happening there today. Growing up as a Navy family, we moved every few years. Moss didn't get to grow under our feet. Imagine if Jesus had needed to pack to move…