It is the time of year when all kinds of bins and boxes and organizational supplies are for sale.

They are meant to help those of us who have way too much stuff BELIEVE that with just the right equipment, we can really, finally, get organized.

Here’s the dirty truth:

If you have too much stuff, you will never be able to organize it and keep it organized.

It is bigger than you.

The only way you are going to ever be able to organize your stuff and keep it organized is to get rid of A LOT of it.

Why is this so obviously true and we constantly fail to see it?

Here is an even better question:

How does this principle apply to your spiritual life?

If I just get more organized, I will have time to spend with God…

 Once I am done watching Game of Thrones I will make time to read the Bible …

 As soon as I am through with school I will really start to pray …

 Once soccer season is over we can spend more time together as a family …

You know how it goes … We think if we can just learn how to be more productive, how to squeeze more and more activities and obligations into our already over-crowded schedules, we can finally become organized, effective and focused.

The problem is, we simply have too many obligations …

And no amount of planning, multi-tasking or organizing will help us …

Our only hope is to get rid of some of our obligations so we have the time, energy and focus to spend on what really matters to us.

Don’t go buy the new bins at Target … just start giving your stuff away.

Don’t buy a new planner … just start saying NO.