Project 333 - An Experiment

Have you ever had a moment where you hear something, or see something and you just know it's the thing you had been looking for? You know you were looking for something, but didn't know what it was until you heard it, or saw it? It happened to me yesterday.

For those who know me, you know I am a simple person. I have too much stuff and, if you were honest, you have too much stuff too. All of this stuff adds to our stress as each item we possess fills up a part of our mental energy and space, taking the room of something possibly more important.

This Sunday I am preaching a sermon on Luke 18 - The Rich Young Ruler. This man did everything outwardly necessary to follow Jesus, but Jesus wasn't just looking for the outside. Jesus probed. Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. The rich man wasn't willing because the things we thought he possessed actually were possessing him; his material possessions had such a hold on him and letting them go was too much to follow Jesus.

As always when I prepare sermons God teaches me a whole lot about myself. It's no coincidence this week I downloaded a Robcast where Rob Bell interviews a minimalist named Joshua Becker (www.becomingminimalist.com/). During the interview Joshua started talking about this thing called Project 333 (http://bemorewithless.com/project-333/). As I stated above, I have a lot of stuff, even if I don't think I do. In aligning myself with my sermon on possessions Sunday and in keeping with letting do and simplifying I am taking on the challenge.

Project 333 - Dress with 33 total items for 3 months

I know what you are thinking, 'Oh this is easy!' Ok, until hats, scarves, mits, shoes, socks, underwear, each individual item counts towards the dress. And it's going into October in Canada. It's not as easy as you think. Yesterday as I was laying out my 33 items I thought I had it in the bag, no problem, until I got to 33 and had no socks and underwear on my list.........

So, here we go. Today I started Project 333 and I will be inviting the people I speak to on Sunday to join me in this, maybe not 33 items, but less than 50. I will be doing it till December 28 and will be living on A LOT less clothing than I normally do.

To end let me share my 33 items:

Outerwear (8):

3 - pairs of shoes (Sperry's, Blundstones, Dress Shoes)

1 - hat (winter)

3 - coats/vests (Wool Suit Jacket, Vest, Goose Jacket)

1 - pair of mits

Casual Clothes and Undergarments (12)

2 - undershirts

4 - T-shirts (Long sleeved/Short sleeved)

3 - Pairs of pants

2 - Sweaters

1 - Sweatpants

Dress Clothes (5)

1 - Pants

3 - Shirts

1 - Tie

Accessories (2)

2 - Belts (Casual/Dress)

Let's do this!