Typing tonight from my Mom’s home. Near the center of her small town, the house was build in 1914. Picture dark, wide wood trim and century-old floors, creme walls, high ceilings, and treats in every cupboard. Mom’s place is wonderfully warm.We always spend Sunday afternoon at Granny’s eating her worth-the-drive-even-if-you-live-on-the-coast tacos and playing pinochle. Today was extra special because Barry’s sister, brother-in-law, and aunt are in town for the holidays and came over with Bear’s dad to celebrate Auntie Elaine’s 77th and Louie’s 9th birthday. Truly blessed to have family that loves, and even likes, one another.
We all left around 4pm but flooding had washed out our driveway so we circled back to Mom’s. My Mom was aglow by the time we walked back in the door. She had beds and blankets ready for the sleepover and all of us have been duly pampered with dinner and tea (and I think Louie snuck a donut). They are all tucked in downstairs sleeping and I’m upstairs working on messages for a university retreat and the upcoming Periscope broadcasts (Dec 28-Jan 1 @aliciachole). The theme is Living Lighter Within and I’ll be sharing some of the themes from 40 Days of Decrease.
Living Lighter Within–it’s about decreasing the clutter we carry about in our souls. 
Flooding forced me to live lighter today. I couldn’t stop the flood anymore than I could stop the sunset. It was out of my control. Had I known the flooding would block our path home, I could have been thoroughly prepared. Had I been planning to stay at Mom’s, I would have packed a well-stocked suitcase. But the flooding caught me off guard and here I am without my “stuff.”
And it looks like I may survive.
Maybe I tend to carry around more than I truly need.
That’s one of the gifts of floods. Floods decrease our control. Be they floods of physical water or emotional pain, good or bad news, changes at work or in relationships, floods reduce us.
They invite us to thin the clutter.
They cause us to redefine the essential.
So evidently tonight, I didn’t need a half a dozen binders of my study notes. I just needed an attentive soul.
Frankly, it feels a little scarier. (I do like my study notes.)
But it also feels a little lighter.
The flood’s fruit seems to be dependence.
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Learning together: Are you hoping to Live Lighter Within in 2016? I’d love to hear your plans for thinning be that in your home, your work, or your heart. (P.S. THANK YOU for commenting on last week’s post! It means so much to me to know that people are actually reading and digesting the blogs. Truly–it’s very encouraging. As promised, I’ll be sending one of the first signed copies of 40 Days of Decrease to RUBY STERLING for posting on my last blog! And this week I’ll send another signed copy of 40 Days to someone who comments. Please feel free to pass along the gift opportunity to your friends!)
40 days of decrease sounds like exactly what I need. Not want, NEED. 🙂
Looking forward to “40 Days of Decrease” and becoming a willing participant in the decrease that has already been occurring in my life. The baggage, both in my physical and spiritual life is weighing me down. Thank you yet once again for helping me walk through difficult times.
Thanks for your blog. I am learning to “Live Lighter” as I was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I have had a lumpectomy and awaiting to see a radiologist and onocologist. All has stopped and I am leaning in to hear God. The clutter that I have tried to get rid of is no longer of importance to me. Each day and each moment is so precious. I Pray for Gods guidance on this Journey and to embrace what is important for the day. I remember living thru Hurricane Irene. Letting go of the “Stuff” was easy as all we had were each other in the neighborhood. Why do we sometimes forget these seasons and must learn this lesson all over again. Thank God for his continued love for us no matter what. Thanks, Alicia, for your book Anonymous-I still refer back to it and so helpful!
WOW! That was profound for me! I could ACTUALLY feel the fear of not having “everything I NEED!” I won’t even watch movies where people are stranded, like those apocalyptic (not sure of spelling) movies wheree things will never be normal again. I suppose the area I need to lighten up in is control or just holding on to what I believe to be safe. This has been extremely insightful, as I probe into the areas of my life that need decreasing. Thank you for this opportunity! 🙂
Never heard of you until today when Darlene mentioned you on a YOUTUBE when she spoke at the C3 Church San Diego this past year.
I enter 2016 with lots of anticipation – good and bad and I know that it is only through de-cluttering many areas of my life that I will be sustained through HIM. I guess I feel like I am on a sinking ship and we have to throw stuff overboard to stay afloat, trusting in My Captain, My Lord.
“The flood’s fruit seems to be dependence”
How sweet that some of the best fruit comes in unexpected, unprepared times if we only choose to see it.
I pray that God helps me thin the internal voices that steal my joy and strength. Much of it is the result of caring too much what others think. God has taken hold of me in this area, and I’m finally willing to allow Him to thin this area of my life. Looking forward to the space to dream and live again.
I would like to free up mental space by de-cluttering my thought life. If Jesus and I cannot think about it together–it isn’t worth thinking about!
Here is my current location on my Decrease Journey. It begins with awareness of my comfortable clutter. Things I added easily. Things I do automatically, instinctively without thought or focus. Praying for awareness and courage to hear and yield.
The older my husband and I get the less “stuff” we find ourselves wanting or needing. It is the simpler things in life that mean the most. Like our granddaughter saying that our home is peaceful. Then I got to share with her about how grandpa and I prayed over our home that it would be a safe haven for those that entered. That is the “stuff” that is lasting! Praise God!
Over the past 18 months I begun a journey of purging. This summer we will sell just about everything and move to the other side of the planet. Some of the things that I have emotionally struggled to let go of, God has so graciously shown me that souls are way more important than those things. Life is getting down to the bare bones of me and Jesus with a side of family and responsibilities. A change of perspective is a wonderful thing. The more I let go of things, the bigger hands I have to grasp my Fathers hand.
Great word. For the past few weeks, my prayers have been focused on asking for a pure heart. As I read your blog, I realize the path to a pure heart is shaking off the inside clutter. I look forward to reading the book. I appreciate your depth and insights. Thanks.
Great Word! Personally, it is hard being caught off guard, but it does allow me to do some soul searching. Feeling lighter already!
As always, love your blog posts! Just as I read this my husband and 10 YO son are cleaning out a small area and sorting to give away… good to have done.
In 2016 I would like to live lighter but I have no idea where to start. I will be praying for wisdom to know what to eliminate and courage to carry it through.
Alicia!
I’m going through your “Intimate Conversations” devotional right now. And I just finished, “Finding an Unseen God.” My plan is buy up all your books and learn from you. I’ve been so blessed already. Thank you, times one million, for pouring into my heart.
Much love and prayers for you this new year coming!
Love,
Maggie
I have been on a continuous journey to let go of the things I carry physically and spiritually in my life and soul. Sometimes I have more success than at other times. 2016 is the year that I declutter the voices of the naysayers and reclaim my God created destiny/purpose with or without fear. There is no more time to waste on distractions. Thanks for your blog.
I’m learning to let go of what is not lasting and focus on what is important. Simplify…spirit, soul, and body. Learning to breathe again and rest in His presence, instead of doing it all in my own strength. Waiting…until I hear His voice, and then proceed. Let go more…and trust.
It does hurt to de clutter and live lighter…it’s like a piece of you dies…the pruning hurts, but in the end leads to new growth.
It’s in those times that we can’t take care of ourselves (by preparing things beforehand) that God truly intervenes in ways we would never imagine. He forces us to quiet ourselves and look up to Him. Which is what He wants from us all the time–dependence on Him.
I am focusing on living lighter within. We were forced to move last year and sell everything because that’s what you do when you move from an island to the mainland. We still don’t own a set of dishes so in many ways we live lighter materially. The move took an emotional toll and I’m really excited for this new study to recalibrate my thoughts and heart.
Good word!
What is essential? What is clutter? That is what I am beginning to focus on. Its not easy to get rid of the clutter, especially if you don’t recognize it as such. My goal for 2016 is to recognize what clutter is (list of to dos, wants, etc) and get it out of the way of my relationship(s). Then just be.
I want to live lighter in the burdens on my heart and learn to trust in Jesus more every day. I constantly declutter my home, but never my soul. Looking forward to this lent season and the blessings that will come through decrease!
I’m loving the process of learning to let go of what we think we need and becoming aware of unnecessary extras. Thanks Alicia.
In 2016 I want to live lighter in my activities. I want my calendar to reflect my life verse. I want to get ride of all the “good” that clutters my days & nights and make room for the “best”. God’s word for me this year is “relationship”. I look forward to some dedicated time alone with God this weekend and downloading what His plans for this year are. I sense that this year will be a year of deep investments, spiritual challenge & growth, and deepening my roots.
In 2016 I want to live lighter in my activities. I want my calendar to reflect my life verse. I want to get ride of all the “good” that clutter my days & nights and make room for the “best”. God’s word for me this year is “relationship”. I look forward to some dedicated time alone with God this weekend and downloading what His plans. I sense that this year will be a year of deep investments, spiritual challenge & growth, and deepening my roots.
Thanks for this blog! I look forward to reading your book, Alicia. I am finding myself being helped by God “declutter” what is inside my soul. When there is less inside, there is more focus on God and the things He likes me to be and do. Thanks for writing a book that is so timely to many of us. God continually bless you to bless others!
Yes, intentionally (or unintentionally in your case!?) scaling down and traveling lighter through life can be disconcerting and even downright scary at times; but it can also be liberating to know that we don’t need all the ‘stuff’ we carry around with us to retain our joy. God and me are enough!!
I couldn’t help but think of your 9 year old and imagine his reaction to being stuck at grandma’s. I bet he never thought oh no I don’t have my suitcase. Funny how the older we get the more we think we have to have. Thanks for the reminder to travel light!
Blessings,
Rayna
One place I want to practice simplicity is in hospitality. I want to have a home that speaks, “you are loved” rather than I am perfect! My desire is to open my soul to others and to dissipate fear of judgment. The focus of preparation will change from my home to my heart. In this, relationships will be made!