August 2026: Regrets

A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in a big cleanout of the church’s kitchen. We had lots of items taking up space that weren’t useful on a regular basis and others that we didn’t want to donate or toss that were being stored in the prime spots. It got me to thinking about how sometimes if you don’t use things, they go bad. Did you know spices have expiration dates?

Recently I came into possession of a set of the skin tone Sharpie markers. A set of twelve markers that purports to cover a good number of skin tones, though they definitely do not make a claim that it is all. Alas, because these were second hand, two of the markers were already all dried up before they were used. For a free item, not a gift, not bad. No complaints. But it added to that thought of not using something that would have been useful. Could have been.

We can spend a lot of time thinking about the could have beens, what ifs, or should haves. Regrets is the best way to talk about these things, but what if the regrets have to do with things you’ve invested time and money into? What if you’ve carefully packed them in boxes for storage, paid for a storage unit, or moved them across the country… twice? This is a question about material things, but also about what we are holding onto in our spirits.

Christ invites us to set down all that burdens us and be made new. What are you holding onto? How is God calling you to let go?

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:5 NRSVUE