I’ve been sorting through crates of costumes that were packed away in our garage for the past year.  Before we moved, I didn’t realize I would have no further use for these things, so they were sealed up and made ready for the mover.

What a job!  It’s like going through a lifetime of memories.  Each costume stirs thoughts of past productions; who wore them; what was their response when told they had to wear them; and how they lit up the stage by doing so.  I threw many of the oldest ones away, but many remain.  There are pirates, harem girls, cowboys &  Indians, early settlers, orphans, cartoon characters, poodle skirts, rock stars and lots of props and accessories to go along with them.

I’m going to have a sale next week and since we live in the Halloween Capitol of the World, these costumes should sell quickly.  What doesn’t sell will be donated or given away.

Last year, as we downsized and rid ourselves of 50 some years of our life, it was a bit painful, but necessary.  Now I’m saying goodbye to years of fun memories I shared with my theater pals.  It’s kind of bittersweet, but if we’re going to be able to get a car in our garage this winter, it must be done.

As I do this, I think about the great gift God has given us.  We once wallowed in our sinfulness.  We became more and more used and abused because of it.  Soon our clothes became unrecognizable.  We tried to cover up our sins by doing good deeds, but all of those were like those filthy rags to God.

His blood washed all of them clean and made us pure again in God’s sight.  Just imagine being able to stand before the authority of God – sinless – because of what Jesus did for us.

I feel a load of weight lifted from my shoulders by getting my costumes ready for sale, but the weight of sin is so much greater.  Praise be to God, He has given all of us the victory over death and damnation.  I can’t wait to greet Him in heaven, clothed in the purest of clothes.

ISAIAH 64:6  “ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.