Team spirit, uncluttered space and living life lightly | Candace McKibben

It is difficult for me to acknowledge, but clear to all who know me well, that I save way too much. Not too much money, mind you, but papers I have written and might one day need, clothes I no longer wear but keep just in case, books I no longer use but that I once loved, class notes from college and seminary, sweet cards I have received from people who are dear to me, even emails that I might need to review at a later date.

I have been meaning to pare down my “possessions” for years but have failed miserably until this weekend past. It took sheer will to stay on task, and while I have much more to tackle, I feel like I made good progress. My husband says I have never met a horizontal surface I did not like, and he is right. I am trying to reduce my unwieldy piles of stuff I have been meaning to tend to for decades and travel lighter.

It was while clearing hundreds of emails from my inbox, that I came across a subject line from America Magazine, The Jesuit Review, that piqued my curiosity. “Maybe God Does Care Who Wins in Sports. And What’s Wrong with That.” I was able to rescue it from the computer trash before answering the unnerving computer question, “Are you sure you want to delete all items in this folder?”

It is a tongue-in-cheek article about the ways in which so many of us resort to calling on God when we are passionate about our team winning. And while the article does not relieve us of wondering about just how God is or is not involved in such mundane matters, it acknowledges that whether we think it is theologically sound or not, many of us have voiced prayers for our team’s victory either in our hearts or aloud.

Seminole spirit

This all feels relevant in light of the awesome start of the FSU Seminoles on Sunday evening past. I was not much of a football fan when I came to Tallahassee 33 years ago. My very first college football game, apart from the Furman Paladins who had record low wins during my years there, was the FSU v Florida game in 1990 at Doak Campbell Stadium. We made a day of it, tailgating and getting to the stadium early so we could cheer for the 'Noles as the players stretched out before the game. Who knew jumping jacks could be so impressive?

I stood in awe of the pregame rituals of the Marching Chiefs spilling out on the field like ants from an anthill and oohed, ahhed, and eventually “umphed” along with thousands of other fans, as Chief Osceola, riding high on the majestic horse, Renegade, planted the lit spear in the turf at center field.

I learned the chop, which I now know my children found entertaining, my approach a bit overly exuberant and way too stiff. I learned the cheers. We participated in the wave as it pulsated across the stands and, yes, I may have uttered a prayer or two for the 'Noles to be victorious. After that game, I was eager to go to many more, and did so through the years.

But it has been a long time since I felt as hopeful about our team as I felt this past Saturday evening as #8 FSU took on #5 LSU in Orlando. While we did not attend the game, we tailgated in our home, wore our FSU gear, including my lucky scarf, and cheered the team as if we were in the stands.

We even stayed up to listen to the postgame show on the radio. While I imagine it is certainly too early to say that FSU is back, it certainly felt to me like I am back! It was exhilarating to see our team do so well and made my own life somehow feel a bit lighter in the moment.

Lightness of being

I needed that lightness. I had just heard from a refugee friend that her family and others in a particular area of Kabul had been evicted from the homes they owned by the Taliban with only a few days’ notice and no compensation. This daughter felt helpless and hopeless about the plight of her parents and siblings, and asked for help.

Rather than despair myself, I had the capacity to hear her and consider what I might do with the help of others to make a difference. I believe the joy I was feeling about the FSU game coupled with the house purging, had something to do with that capacity.

I am reminded of a quote that I first heard attributed to Minnie Pearl, but have since learned was written by G.K. Chesterson, a prolific British writer, journalist, and philosopher. I understand he was often seen laughing though he understood more clearly than most the considerable troubles of humankind. Chesterson said “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” He went on to suggest that seriousness is not a virtue, but a vice.

Along that same vein, celebrated Italian writer and journalist, Italo Calvino, said, “Take life lightly, for lightness is not superficiality, but gliding above things, not having weights on your heart.”

And finally, the remarkable British writer and philosopher, Aldous Huxley, in the last of 50 books he wrote says, “It is dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply.”

Uncluttering your life

While I could not defend it theologically or practically, except to say I believe God knows and loves us deeply, I do believe God cares about the mundane matters of our lives.

I also believe God wants us to live life lightly. I imagine I will always utter a prayer when my Seminoles are playing and hope I can continue to reduce the clutter in my life so that I have capacity to think and live more creatively and joyfully.

It is my prayer for us all that we can be less burdened by the deeply serious events in the world, not by ignoring them, but by being more balanced in our approach to life, living life more lightly in all living lightly means.

You might consider the NPR Joy Generator or the pathway to happiness program at the Greater Good Science Center as a potential way to begin.

Or maybe, just tackle that closet you have been avoiding.

The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister and pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Living life lightly: Less stuff, more spirit adds balance