Monday, May 02, 2011

Excess

I am guilty of excess in so many ways. And, as I sit quietly on Friday night with the rest of the house asleep and wonder what to write about this coming week, a thought comes ~ excess.

Things I do in excess:

* use lots of words

* take and use lots of pictures

* do lots of things

* fill up life

* enjoy beautiful things and lots of hobbies

Tonight, it strikes me that excess clutters my heart, mind, home and schedule. Excess complicates and is time consuming. More is not better, more is just more. More _____ (fill in the blank) just requires more. More time. More energy. More organizing. More stress. It is just more.

Are you struggling with excess right now?

Tomorrow: space.

Photo: Strawberries picked locally and ready to give.

14 comments:

Wendi said...

Yes, yes, yes I struggle with excess! Excess stuff, thoughts and an excessive amount of stuff to do. I feel that I am always working on this.

being molded said...

Sadly, yes. I truly know the lord is leading me away from some things and pray I am willing to listen. I was reading a book recently, it was by Elizabeth George or Nancy Leigh Demoss and they spoke about the "best" use of our time. So many things seem like a good use of my time, to me anyway. But they are they best use, umm no, in some cases. I have such a difficult time saying no to thing church related and anything to do with my children and their happiness. I need to sit everyone down and explain m mind is constantly clouded with what I need to get done next and I need to step back some so my sanity stays intact.
I'm decluttering all the excess in my home too. Realizeng as I do, just how much stuff I don't need.

*carrie* said...

Excess thinking, for sure!

Mmm, strawberries . . . =)

barbara said...

This is such a timely post for me - we have to move out of our home within the month. As I pack, I'm trying to weed out all the excess. I don't need all this stuff. You know what it does? It keeps me away from God and my family! I want more time with my Savior and the husband and children that I love dearly. I don't need another dish or decoration. Thank you Monica - this will be a great motivator for me this week.

LynnMarie said...

Like many in the USA I too have excess. I do believe that it is a condition of where we live. Stuff is easy to get, store, and hold on to. How many of us clean out a closet only to fill it up with new stuff to clean and keep track of. People in other countries don't have this issue and people in the south after the tornados, are finding that they can do with out a lot sadly. Even out time can be os excess. Too much time on such and such commitee and not enough time with our children. Good post today.

Melissa said...

YES! My life is full of too many things I don't need. Being away from home for so long has helped me to see that. I can't wait to get rid of all the excess when I return!

There are times when I also struggle with excess thoughts. I don't think on the things I ought to, so my mind goes crazy!!! My brain has more clutter than my house! Yikes!

angie said...

Feeling the drain of excess in my heart, too. Wanting to simplify my schedule and time wasters before my children are home for the summer.

~katie~ said...

Oh yes, I can relate. Oh...to be simpler and to find joy in simple things...and to give that of my excess to others! Thanks for this encouragement, Monica!

angela said...

Your heart is obviously in the same place as mine lately. I have been trying to figure out how mothers keep their sanity with many children, when I seem to be losing mine with only one. I have decided that these women that I know just don't do the extras. They don't bake often, or make big meals or entertain guests frequently or have hobbies. I decided that this week I was not doing the extras (except those I had already planned to do :) and am going to try to keep things simple. We'll see how that goes.

Lee said...

Boy the Spirit is blowing similar thoughts among me, too. Just yesterday I parked on this thought.

Excess clothing, so many have so much less and I panic when the kids only have three pairs of "public worthy" pants. About grass stains made by my baseball obsessed seven year old boy being a boy?

I have so many clothes in this home it is nauseating.

Excess leaves no room for what God might provide if we needed him to. I'm hoarding to provide for self because I think, deep, deep down there's a fear He just might not provide.....

Is my excess somewhat driven by distrust? I pray it isn't. Time for some soul searching and closet purging. :)

Elise said...

It certainly seems that we are all on the same page...I have had to downsize housing by half the square footage and definitely had more than I need in the bigger house. Its been on my heart{and floor, etc.} lately that I just have too much stuff and its time to let it go. I'm trying and also trying not go to Goodwill cause I might find something I didn't know I needed. Ugh...
Great post, Monica!!

Elise

Cheryl said...

It's funny you posted about this today. I have found in the past couple of months I have been feeling the same way. I have been doing some runs to the local Goodwill. Taking bags and boxes of stuff we just don't use, need, or even enjoy on a daily basis...and quite frankly, I don't want it cluttering up our life anymore. So, out it goes.

It's funny you will be talking about space tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

Mrs M said...

I am so looking forward to more on this. As I was cleaning this morning I again felt convicted at the amount of stuff we have. I can feel another purge coming on...
I once heard it said that whatever you own, own's you. It's the sense that stuff takes time - time to clean, store, pack, move, insure, protect..... all a bit distracting from the real 'stuff' of life.
Thanks Monica.

Carrie said...

What a great little mini series. Brief thought provoking posts which cause me to think through my day a little bit more. Thanks for sharing!