©IBKimage2012

My grandparents in Germany were married for 62 years and  from my earliest memories , until my last visit with my grandfather when he was 100, the layout of their (and later his) rental residences was always very similar.  A small cozy living room with a modular desk storage area with a medium sized TV ;  a round table in front of the couch where meals were eaten, games played,and long conversations held; a wooden cabinet which held valuables, dishes, wine glasses, vases, and candy and small purchased cookies to offer visitors for afternoon coffee;  a rectangular chase lounge tucked in a corner and finally the doors to the small outdoor seating area, their one bedroom,  a small kitchen and a foyer where they had a storage cupboard, a small bathroom with handheld shower, and a coat and hat rack along with an umbrella stand and a drawer for gloves,scarves and other items. Oh, and of course the flowerpots in the deep windowsill in front of the sheer curtains.

In 1964 when I spent the summer with them in Germany, they began speaking of:  “building down”.  What they meant by that, was that it was time to give away and sell some of their “larger” furniture, let go of items, and re-evaluate what they would need as they planned to move to a smaller apartment that suited their needs and their lifestyle, for their “last” years (which for my grandmother would be another 16 years and my grandfather another 30.)

I am challenged (or perhaps invited) to once again “build down”, to make room for only that which supports what I value, releases me from past identity and accomplishment, and frees me to schedule my life to live in a present moment , not weighted down with things, but released  to lift my hands in worship and joy; freed to receive instead of forcing, and finally to be available to continue to be in relationship with those who are or will come into my life in this new year.

Instead of getting organized this year, ask yourself:  “What am I clutching in my hand that when released, will free me to …”

IBK