After all the revelries of Christmas and New Year, after the trousers get oddly tighter and the mince pies have vanished- what next? mini-Easter Eggs are already in the shops. It’s only 354 shopping days to Christmas (thereabouts, anyway) and if we leave the lights up we could pretend we’re early for the next one!

Instead, we could do something to lighten the load. Every year we accumulate “stuff” – some of which is clutter and “bargains” – or perhaps the more psychological “stuff” resulting from our good/bad life experiences. Hurts and grudges; the fun and laughter, tears from grief, and the things we have outgrown. We carry memories and a personal “script” of our automatic responses to success or failure. Shouldn’t we sort the junk from the jewels?

I’m going to buy a new doorbell rig for my sister-in-law: the old (nay, prehistoric) one has popped its clogs and is useless (and not even good looking). Junk the junk!

I’m going to keep the encouraging comments made during a training course last year: they add value and worth. Treasure the treasure!

Wisdom is required. I am, according to one personality assessment, a RESOURCE-GATHERER. My inbuilt urge is to collect things/ideas/facts/fun objects because they WILL be useful for teaching, leading, encouraging, preaching, etcetera. A noble pursuit- but 40 years of accumulated “resources” takes too much room and mental space. Some is out of date and out of relevance. Some is gold dust. Junk the junk. Treasure the treasure.

Then there are people to thank, encourage, forgive, be forgiven by. Some who should definitely stay in the collection because they bless and benefit me (selfish? but sensible). Others will be gently dropped: either because I’m no good to them at this point, OR their negative effect on me is too heavy to carry. After all, we are called to be servants, not punchbags.

Shops do an annual stocktake. Bought, sold, on the shelves, profit, loss. Disciples need an annual inspection to help us lighten the load: we should only be carrying the burdens that God puts upon our shoulders- and do that with the strong help of Jesus.

Am I closer to Jesus now? What is hindering me from loving Him wholeheartedly? Habits of body and mind? They can be good or bad. Junk the junk. Treasure the treasure. Lighten the load.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Translation)