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Gigi Hill's avatar

I remember Topo Gigio! Hope your knee continues to heal as you do all your pulls and stretches. You can do this!

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Jane Hoppe's avatar

I look forward to your next book, Michelle.

This post is worth pondering. I like your setting the scene by purging ancient office stuff. I can identify. And then you liken our "schlepping bad baggage ..." to that. Yes, of course, I've ditched the big fax machine. But have I ditched the bad baggage from my spiritual journey? Do I even know what it is? I probably could cite most of it, but the bigger question is, Have I done what Jesus would have me do with it? Have I forgiven? Have I learned lessons I can apply now to glorify God? Your post is thought-provoking ~ thanks.

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Miriam Maranzenboim's avatar

An amazing article since I recently visited the USA for nearly a month (a cousin was in ICU & I could talk to her for 4 days before the Lord took her home). We are both 1/2 Swedish (same grandparents who lived in New Sweden in Idaho growing great potatoes). Being Swedish, just look at IKEA mag. & see that accumulations of whatever are more than welcome - they'll sell u plenty of shelves, drawers, decorative boxes, etc. I was alone most of the time clearing out around 7 rooms with gusto. Lots of surprises & things surfaced & we're still going. Main thing is that there was no way for me, my sister, nor the grandson to make it to the funeral but we all did by G-d's grace. Me from overseas & others from FOUR different states! The gospel was preached to the unsaved in the family. I think it's a new season for my troubled family over there. Your book about family ties made it exactly to her house and is in the hands of the closest; her son and wife. I did the knee & both hips - also G_d's grace enabled me in Ben Gurion, LAX & Kennedy airports. Blessings, Michelle! You'll be fine!

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Sherry V. Chidwick's avatar

Yes. This. I was just writing about this necessary work of deconstructing and cleaning out the unneeded junk in my faith leftover from a messy church past, reconstructing what's left, and coming out renewed on the other side. Only you wrote about outdated office equipment. I wrote about dumpster diving. 🥴

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Michelle Van Loon's avatar

Outdated office equipment and dumpsters have much in common! :)

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MBrandt's avatar

At our church Covid forced not just downsizing but a complete refocus on, hopefully, what is truly important. We have had opportunity to reevaluate practices and programs and we have simplified.

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Carole Duff's avatar

So good, Michelle, so relatable! Thank you!

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