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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
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| Dumpster Diving |
Tonight I went dumpster diving.
In the Goodwill truck.
Earlier today my dad inadvertently donated my mom's old (and treasured) Christmas decorations. Even the hand-made ones from me and my brother. Yarn candy canes my Granny made. Wooden ornaments hand-painted by my Grandfather. A picture of me circa 1979 surrounded by pipe cleaners and glitter. All gone.
I was there when my mom found out over dinner. Her eyes welled up with tears, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing when she sighed with resignment, "what's done is done."
I wanted to know where he had dropped them off. I couldn't get out the door fast enough - at 7:45 pm. I told my husband he'd have to put the kids to bed as I raced off to the Goodwill trailer.
As I pulled up the Goodwill guy was in his car keeping warm. The big truck was closed up but the sign said they were open till 8 and I had 5 minutes to spare. Bawling, I told him the story. My husband had told me that they never let people in the truck. They never let you take anything once it has been dropped off, he said. It's against the rules. I guess it's a good thing that I never really think rules apply to me. If they were open, I would get in.
Well, prayer works. He opened the doors and I was in the trailer digging through humongous cardboard boxes looking desperately by lantern light for the treasured decorations.
The man said that at 10 am they got a fresh trailer and anything dropped off before then would be gone. I was about to conclude that our stuff was in the first trailer when I saw it. That shag needlepoint rug my grandfather made. I guess that was in the mistaken pile, too. I had to find the decorations, too. At last, I found the two precious boxes buried in another box filled with lights. I trembled and bawled and hugged Goodwill Guy and thanked him over and over.
I showed up at my mom's door in the rain holding the boxes and she was incredulous. Through our tears I said, "there's ALWAYS a way."
This Christmas season, may you remember that it's the simple pipe cleaners and glitter, the love for your mother, the sentimental memories - not expensive presents, endless commitments, and commercial myths - that are worth going after with all your heart. I'm reminded on this winter night that the best Gift of all time came hidden in rags. And when we look for it, we WILL find it!
Yours,
Vicki Norris
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Get Inspired!
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| Weeding Your Life |
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Disorganization is like weeds. It's so tempting to do a haphazard job of organizing as we speed through life, just like we yank the tops off weeds in our yard as we are hurrying through weeding. We shortcut the process thinking it will save us time.
But good organizing takes time. We have to figure out what caused our disorganization in the first place instead of just tossing bins and baskets or a "tip or trick" at the problem. Understanding how we got here is the only way to pull the problem out by the root.
Good organizing also is an ongoing process. You don't just do it once and "arrive." It's a lifestyle of keeping the soil of your life decluttered of invaders and available for fruitfulness.
What can you do today to weed the soil of your life? |
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