To move you need to chuck

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As you are probably aware, BINA is moving next week to its new home…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie.

Rabbi Michol Gourarie photo: Henry Benjamin

We have spent the last week packing boxes and labeling furniture. Part of the moving process has been to decide what needs to come with and what we can now throw away. Suddenly it has become apparent how much junk has been accumulated over the years that is not necessary nor appropriate to take to the new venue. Old files, outdated documents and broken equipment are just a few examples of the many things we have chucked out over the last few days.

When we were doing this, it dawned on me that this process is symbolic of life’s journey. Every so often, we may be inspired to improve and move to the next level. We may want to strengthen our relationships, bring more spirituality into our lives or just become a better human being. We are tired of where we are and we want to move to a better space.

But it is then that we need to realize that for the new ‘venue’ to work we need to leave lots of old stuff behind. If we take everything with, we will be in the same mess. Throwing things away is a critical part of packing. To move forward we need to discard old attitudes, banish resentment from old disputes, give up and throw away old baggage. Once we make a break from the past we can successfully move into the future.

But if we only do this once in ten years the mess becomes overwhelming. Every few months we should reflect and dig deep into our own soul and clean out the garbage that is cluttering our lives and preventing us from moving on.

Happy packing.