Unrealistic Emmys, Sparkly Gowns, and the Undecided Pile

The Four Sacred Piles of Moving

When I first start packing for our move, I make four piles: things to take, things to give away, things to throw away, and things I’m undecided about.

As I carefully pack the “take” pile, I meticulously label the contents of each bin. That system works beautifully—for about two bins. By the fifth or sixth, the labels get vague: Stuff from closet. Misc. More misc.

The Evening Gown Makes the Cut

And yes, the sparkly evening dress and rhinestone sandals make it into the “take” pile. I haven’t worn them since our 2012 cruise, but they still fit, and who knows? I might be nominated for a daytime, nighttime, or mid-afternoon naptime Emmy. Never mind that I’m not an actor. A director could be scouting for someone to play a 66-year-old woman who leads survivors to safety through a harrowing tsunami in the Pacific Northwest and stumble upon me in the grocery store, scanning my produce at self-checkout, looking like I just survived said tsunami. It could happen.

Let's just say my chances of being nominated for an Emmy are roughly equal to my odds of winning a $500 million lottery jackpot. But I still buy the ticket ... and keep the gown ready.

The Out-of-Control Undecided Pile

Then there’s the “undecided” pile—home to Pampered Chef gadgets I’ve never used (but surely will in the next twenty years), and gifts from friends who’ve long drifted from frequent contact. They may not still be around, but their thoughtfulness lingers every time I see those items. Into the undecided pile they go.

The trouble is, while the packed bins grow steadily, the undecided pile multiplies at a disturbing rate. And as the number of empty bins shrinks, decisions must be made.

The No-Nonsense Packer

Packing is easier for my husband. He has no undecided pile. No sentimental attachments. Everything falls neatly into “useful” or “not useful.” Useful gets packed. Not useful goes to Goodwill or the dump. If he’s ever nominated for an Emmy, though, he’ll have nothing to wear.

Packing Is Only the Beginning

And of course, packing is only half the battle. Once we get to the new house, all of those items need to be unpacked, sorted, and somehow made to fit into a home with fewer built-ins and less storage. Treasures that once held a place of honor will now be squeezed, stacked, or hidden.

The Bigger Picture

But here’s the truth: no matter how many bins I pack, or how many undecided piles I shuffle around, none of it’s going with me in the end. Jesus said it best—“Store your treasures in heaven... Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:20–21 NLT).

So yes, the sparkly dress is still coming along—just in case Hollywood calls. But when I get to my real forever home, I won’t need evening wear. I’ll be trading rhinestones for a crown.

Blessings,

Angela

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Angela L. Gold is an encourager who shares the love of Christ in her writing. She is the author of The Lion Within and Kill Shot.