Rev James Hanson, Vicar, Burpham Church

Most times in the year I have cravings for clearing out stuff. I don’t think I am one of life’s hoarders, but over time, I get increasing urges to declutter, and pair back stuff.

Once a clear-out has happened, the feelings go away for a while… until they gradually come back stronger. Can you relate? Letting go can be really cathartic – once we know we can offer things free to a new home, there are so many options: freecycle websites, Facebook Market-place, garage sales, or just posters and signs on the drive. Sometimes this works brilliantly – folk come to adopt things we no longer desire and give them a new home. Community café swap shops also offer ways to exchange things like jigsaw puzzles.

We are no strangers to accumulation, and it’s clear we are not great at knowing what to keep or let go. After moving to Burpham just over a year ago, I made a promise to myself – whether the rest of the family agreed or not is another question. My aim was a hard look at our belongings after twelve months. What did we move from shed to shed that still hasn’t seen the light of day? What do we hold on to ‘just in case’? Where could something be a real blessing for someone else – helping them, while sparing us from being consumed by materialism?

Easier said than done. What stops us? Firstly, time. It takes days to unpack, sort through what to keep, what has potential for rehoming, and what is for the way out. Then more time to decide where it should go – Slyfield recycling, freecycling groups, charity shops or friends. After this comes the waiting – for offers, collections and transport. If this were a business, we would soon give up on such inefficiency – I’ve yet to find the fabled “cash in the attic.” Secondly, energy. When we sorted the large church on New Inn Lane, years of accumulation left every helper overwhelmed. The inertia hurdle is real – and once experienced, we store it as a painful memory, making it easier just to shove things into a cupboard for another day.

Where could something be a real blessing for someone else – helping them, while sparing us from being consumed by materialism?

It doesn’t put me off – but I know I need discipline: to make time, build energy, find friends, and remember the happy feelings of decluttering – even if I haven’t reached peak Stacey Solomon “Sort Your Life Out” levels. It also reminds me to keep decluttering my inner life. What bad habits or toxic traits have crept in? As I wander Burpham, I meet people keen to sort their lives out, to find purpose, values and character. I point to my influencer of choice – Jesus – whose traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control are fruits I long to grow in. But it only happens if I let go of their opposites, decluttering the downward pulls. A constant battle, but one I’ve grown to love – because I feel fulfilled, purposeful and hopeful in the journey of life.

Blessings, Rev James

Church Office: 01483 825533
www.burphamchurch.org.uk