Cleaning

As soon as it starts warming up outside it seems to energize everyone to start organizing, cleaning, and getting rid of stuff they don't need or that isn't of any good use anymore.  Yard sale signs are everywhere, people are donating things, and even trashing stuff as they see fit.

This got me thinking.  Most people are pretty good at realizing the things they need to keep, things they could give away to help others, and of course the crap they need to get rid of.  Some people are qualified to be on the A&E show "Hoarders" where they desperately hold on to everything in their possession regardless of how it effects their lives.

In the same way, it would be interesting if we took a look into our personal life.  Not just our personal belongings, but our interior world.  What are the great qualities that we currently have that we should definitely hold onto? Is there any wisdom that we could pass along to someone that would help them out?

Now for the tough part, are there any things in our life we need to get rid of completely but have a hard time letting go? Maybe it is that grudge you have held for years, or the porn you watch that no one knows about, or the intense negative attitude that leaves you nearly depressed?  Just like the guy on Hoarders, it's tough to let go, especially if it's been with you for awhile.

Some things we will be able to let go of on our own. For me, after a certain point, I needed help to get me through, and I got it.

A word to the wise

It has been awhile since my last post, there are a couple of reasons why, one of which actually inspired this blog.  As much as technology, social networking, and the very blog you are reading can help people connect, there is a point where it can be detrimental.  From my experience I've wanted to improve communication with those most important to me in this life but it is easier said than done.  Between texting, email, Facebook, Twitter, and any other form of non-verbal media we leave too much out there for interpretation.  Communication 101 in college teaches us all this but the fact of the matter is we are a generation who'll be less comfortable with face to face or verbal communication than the one that preceded us because it seems easier.

The crazy part is this, when looking at it from a broader view, avoiding more personal communication is only temporarily easy.  Think of all the the misunderstandings that could have been avoided or the time spent texting back and forth when a call would have been much more efficient?  Don't get me wrong, I believe all of the above mentioned tools can be beneficial but the key here, like anything else, is gaining wisdom as to how to use these things.

That brings me to the next concept I'm trying to believe more deeply and that is the difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Gaining more knowledge is not hard to do, how many have we said to ourselves, "Yep, you learn something new everyday!"  That's cool, but what is really awesome is when the things we learn can change the way we make our decisions.  A baseball player can learn what they should do in tons of scenarios, but if they resort to their former habits have they REALLY learned them? Wisdom is awesome, what little I have comes in handy, my prayer is that God would bless me with more as a move along.

An encouragement, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." - James 1:5

Also check out Proverbs, short and sweet blurbs that will rock your world...

P.S. - One of the greatest songs you may have never heard of...