Do You Believe in Tryouts?

I recently discovered or developed a quirk, I am not sure which yet. I do this thing where I buy something for the house (needed or not), find the perfect place for it, and then give it a rehearsal.

The item gets a tryout. Aren't I nice? I believe in tryouts. The thing about giving tryouts to purchases is that the tag has to stay on in case it doesn't make it through the testing phase and needs to find a new home. So my house is currently filled with furniture and trinkets (as my dad calls them) with the original tag of purchase still intact (also, since when did I buy so many trinkets? I am totally my mother's daughter).

Exhibit A...

Some of you may say that my habit is not that weird. To which I say, thank you (and I smile my I told you so smile to everyone else who thinks it is weird).

Exhibit B....

Here is where it might get a little more odd- my tryout period is indefinite. I don't say "Cute little basket, you get two days to prove yourself and then you go back to World Market." nope.

Indefinite tryout timelines is what I offer. Which makes for a very stressful stay for my purchases- they don't know how long they have to prove themselves- so sad! It also gives me a lot more freedom in purchasing items because I have the knowledge that if they don't pass the rehearsal, I can return them.

I would like to note that I have yet to give a tryout to a purchase and return it. Once I use it, I keep it. So you can stop judging now. :) Like this door mat (Exhibit C). I bought it in November. Ask me why it still has the tags...

It is such a happy door mat. Why won't I just take off the tag?

I started wondering if my quirk applies to other areas of life- don't people do this in their real lives? People give tryouts.

We want escape plans from our recent purchases of storage-bins-that-cost-way-more-than-we-want-them-to-but-oh-they-look-so-cute. We want exit routes for commitments that feel overbearing. friendships that are hard. anything that interferes with our plans or what we perceive to be in our best interest.

But there is good in ditching the tryout and being present to what God is offering you in the moment. I'm not convinced I need to give up my tag quirk and purchase try-outs (it's kinda fun to watch Grant randomly discover tags I haven't taken off items we purchased months ago and question my sanity), but I wonder what it would look like to examine our lives and see the ways we hold back from fully purchasing or buying into what is right in front of our noses.

What is God calling you to remove the tags from?
Where is He inviting you to be present?