I’ll think about that tomorrow. The famous line from Gone with The Wind is an American classic. It’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I never read the book. I think I’ve only seen the movie once, but my family grew up on Carol Burnett. One of my all-time favorite sketches is the “Gone with the Wind curtain rod” sketch.

Today, I laugh just thinking about it. Carol comes out on stage with the curtain rod draped around her neck like a dress. “Just a little something I saw in the window,” she said to a cast wiping away tears from laughter.

While the comedy brings endless laughs, the concept rings true today. Scarlet, the main character, took procrastination to the next level. I can laugh at it until I see it in my own life.

The more I avoid it, the more I see it. Recently, we had to get a new water heater. Which meant that we had to clean out a space for someone to install the water heater. We have a large basement. It’s not finished or useful beyond storage. So, it tends to accumulate a lot of storage.

Storage includes items out of season, as well as, things I don’t want to think about. 

I’ll think about that tomorrow.

What started as, “I’ll rearrange things for access,” turned into “let’s throw it out.” I know it sounds incredibly heartless to throw away perfectly good things. However, the give-to-someone-who-could-use-it section had grown mold spores during the wait.

“Today, if you hear His voice…” (Hebrews 3:7; Psalms 95:7-8)

Obedience brings freedom. I didn’t understand the weight of what I had stored in the basement. I came face to face with memories and crumpled-up dreams. Grief visited me all over again as I encountered the things I couldn’t think about earlier. The first steps were the most difficult, but, as I walked out obedience, my strength returned.

I never had to think about by myself. Jesus promised to never leave us. So, when I picked up an object that brought tears, He was right there to catch them. I only spent 30 minutes on the work, but I receive great joy in the absence of clutter. 

I’m not finished. The things in the basement, represent one category of things that I’ve been putting off. I neglect housework, conversations, bills, and I’m sure there’s more. I’m done putting it off. Today, if I hear His voice, I will deal with it.