Get the Junk Out of Your Trunk

When I lived in an apartment complex we had to take our garbage to a certain location on the property. I would put my garbage in my trunk and drop it off on my way to work.

One time I loaded the garbage but forgot to take it to the dumpster.

It stayed in my trunk for two days. I had forgotten all about it.

Finally, the smell became so strong as I was driving , it reminded me I forgot to get the garbage out of my trunk.

This happens with our spiritual lives as well.

We carry a bunch of garbage in the trunk of our hearts that continue to spoil and smell up our minds and spirits.

How do I get the Junk out of my Trunk?

Begin here…

Make a list of the things that spoil your body/mind/spirit.

Is it things of the past? Experiences or feelings that you feel like you cannot let go of?

Is it people around you that are so toxic that you feel like you collect their garbage when you’re around them?

Is it things that you are doing that are self destructive?

Here is an interesting story titled, “First Things of Our Past”

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck  square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching!

Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes” but Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.”

Then she whispered to him, “Remember the duck?”

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.”

Sally just smiled and said, “Well that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help” She whispered  again, “Remember the duck?”

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s; he finally couldn’t stand it any  longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, “Sweetheart, I know, you did. See, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

That’s a great story with a powerful point…How long will you let your past make a slave of you?

We need to forgive ourselves and others or we will never get the junk out of our trunk.

Many of us are caring sensitive people. We have a tendency to take on other people’s problems and emotions.

How do we care for others without letting their junk get into our trunk?

The Key Is Detachment

The definition of  de·tach·ment

“Separation: the condition of being separated from something, or the process of separating one thing from another.”

It is to de-tach ourselves from the situation. We can walk beside someone to be supportive but we have to be able to detach ourselves.

When we can learn to separate our emotions from another’s then we slowly define who we want to be. When someone starts to dump their garbage on us, we have to remind ourselves that it is THEIR garbage not ours.

Don’t take into our mind and spirit anything we don’t want to stay there.

Don’t let toxic thoughts and emotions stay rent free in your mind.

The Curse of Self-Destruction

Are there things you are doing to yourself that are self destructive?

What are they? Do you know why you are doing them?

I knew a girl who was ‘cutting” herself. She was so frustrated with life that the only way she thought she could release the internal pressure was by physically cutting herself.

Somehow the feeling of pain from the knife wound helped release the emotional pain she was feeling. Finally, she got counseling and learned how to deal with her emotions in a healthier way.

Are there physical acts that you are doing to deal with the internal feelings you’re having?

Talking to another, reading and learning about our inner self, praying for guidance and healing from the God of life are ways to address the internal wounds we carry .

Finally, I keep these words in a place I can remind myself what I want to carry in the trunk of my mind and spirit

Be a Miracle

Jerry