Not only did we need to find a place for my clothes but we had to find room for plenty of other stuff. Both of us — adults marrying in mid-life —had complete households. There were two kitchens’ worth of dishes and pans, more towels and sheets than anyone needs, and you don’t even want to hear about the number of books we had between us. We spent several months going through all our possessions, deciding which things we would keep and which we would give away. The experience not only left me lighter in terms of possessions, but lighter spiritually as well. Too much clutter and too little free space clog the soul.

Many of us have more possessions than we need. "As Christians," writes theologian Margaret Kim Peterson, "we are called to respond differently to abundance. Many things in life…are truly good. They are to be treated with…respect, and sometimes that means saying no to too much. [We must take] material things seriously enough to be willing to get rid of them or to decline to acquire them in the first place" (in Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life, Jossey Bass, 2007; p. 54).

Make clearing out stuff you don’t need anymore into a spiritual practice. Begin by asking God to open your arms and hands so you can let go of things that you no longer use, and recycle those with some life left in them to others who might genuinely need them. Then start going through your closets, bookshelves, and (if you’re truly brave) attic or basement, asking yourself what you really want or need to keep.

Maybe it’s time to give away clothes that no longer fit (be honest!) or that you haven’t worn in a year to an organization that can recycle them to others.

Go through the books and the pans and gadgets in the kitchen with the same goal in mind. Is someone graduating from college this year and setting up her first apartment? Is there a local shelter that might be able to use some of those extra dishes crowding your closets and cupboards? Maybe your library would appreciate donations for their book sale. An animal shelter might find those old towels, sheets, and blankets very helpful.

So many of God’s children have pressing needs, and you may have useful items sitting unused in your home. Consider lightening your load this fall and giving those useable materials away. Letting go of things you don’t need frees up space not only in your home but also in your soul, making more room for God.

Debra K. Farrington is the author of eight books of Christian spirituality and an experienced retreat leader and speaker. Check out her Web site  at www.debrafarrington.com

This article is published in the October 2007 issue of Lutheran Woman Today.