In Praise of Small Closets
I like small closets. I'm in the minority. But I've only recently converted. I used to dream of more closets, bigger closets, built-in, custom-designed California Closets. What changed my mind?
1. I read that a most purchases in America are simply replacements of stuff we already own. That kind of made me mad. What is our problem that we aren't happy with what we have? Why all the compulsive upgrading? I confess I'd like a new tea kettle. Mine is sort of funky and I don't know how to clean it very well. But it works. It's a pot to boil water. It's fine. Fine.
2. I know from experience that the more space we have, the more space we fill. The more we fill, the more we have to care for. Yet, we're not happier. We're frustrated. We can't find what we're looking for. We're swamped with stuff. Stuff, stuff, stuff. It even sounds like too much.
Many with stuffed closets need more space. They rent a new closet, a 16 x 20 closet, called a storage unit. I refuse to get a storage unit. R-E-F-U-S-E. In our country, this puts me in the minority. I read "Americans are storing more stuff than ever. One in 11 American households, according to a recent survey, owns self-storage space—an increase of some 75 percent from 1995." (Tom Vanderbilt, Slate Magazine, July 18 2005).
I want to want less...and be content with what I have. My new prayer is Proverbs 30:8-9. I pray it with hope and in praise of small closets.
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, "Who is the LORD?"
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
6 comments:
I completely agree, we need to simplify. I have been in the process of doing this for the last few years. I keep a box in the garage and put things in there as soon as I realize I haven't been using them (or wearing it). But, like you say, the trick is to not buy more stuff to replace what you just got rid of. I love the book, "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh. He also thinks the storage units are ridiculous. If you don't use it, get rid of- don't pay money to store it! It is so true that having more does not make you any happier, it actually gives you more to clean, maintain, insure, etc. I think of how content I was when I first moved out on my own and would buy a few things at a time to furnish my apartment. Ever since I've owned a home, I fantasize non-stop about remodeling and redecorating. It's like the more I have, the more I "need". Thank you for bringing light to this subject. I think it can be a daily process to remain thankful for what we have and know that God will supply all of our needs.
My daughter and I were just watching one of those shows where a crew comes into a house and helps clean out then re-organize and re-decorate. I'm always amazed at all the "stuff." In this particular show, after the clean up, there was one drawer just for sunglasses--probably twenty pair! And closet space for over 50 pairs of shoes! My thoughts are who needs that many of anything and then my thoughts turn to how much money is wasted---money that could be used to further God's kingdom. I agree that less is better. Happiness is not found in things or in the accumulation of things. This world, especially through the media, has created tremendous temptation in the area of materialism. I try to keep my mind focused on the blessings that we take forgranted. It is not uncommon for me to thank God at night when I crawl into bed---"Thank you, Lord, for this warm comfortable bed." Yes, it's a bed that would be considered outdated and in need of new sheets and a comforter. It's time to think on things above. --Susan
You know, for the last ten months I have come to realize that it's all just stuff! I look around me at all of the books, dishes, baskets, bears, fabric, scrapping stuff and think "why do I need all of this?" Some of it I want, some of it I am just stuck with and some I am slowly going to get rid of. I have a storage unit that I have not looked in for probably almost a year and most of what is in there is not even mine, belongs to my elderly mom or my grown children. How sad! My prayer is that God will show me what to rid myself of and what is really needed for living! I always wanted to have a big closet and now I have every closet in my house and I would trade them any day for just one small closet like I used to have! Thanks Martie for your insights into real life! Love ya! Linda L.
Right on, Martie! I'm not a packrat and certainly don't have a closet full of clothes (that's one area where I probably do need a few more things). Still, I have way too much stuff that I want to get rid of. I'm trying to clean a closet, a drawer, here and there. But I'd love to have a week or two to go through it all.
Linda W.
Oh my goodness, this post cracks me up. Shannon and I spent all weekend going through a storage corner of our basement. Talk about STUFF!!!! Our problem is that we're too sentimental. We still have our placemats from our senior banquet. (like a prom - we went to a Christian school) Ben has a habit of stashing trash too. I've blogged about it and actually emailed it to Diane Kelly. She in turn gave us a book about a trash collector! LOL
I love this post because it's something God has been convicting me on over the last five weeks as my husband and I have been taking a Crown Financial Study at our church. We see clearly now how we have bought so much stuff that we "wanted" and don't truly "need" and have curbed our spending immensely since we've had to look at our budgets and debt very closely and honestly.
When you mentioned the storage units, I just laughed out loud because each time I hear a commercial for one, I find myself judging the company and the people who rent them when we should be giving the items away to charity so that they get in the hands of God's children who truly need them. Now, I just have to work on my judgment and look through all of my extra stuff so I can help people, too. Thanks for sharing Martie!
Lisa from Richmond, VA
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