A Bucket List Or A Bin List

A bucket list is a collection of experiences, achievements, or goals that we hope to accomplish during our lifetime.

The term comes from the idiom "kick the bucket" which means to die. Therefore, a bucket list is essentially a compilation of things we want to do before we pass away.

The bucket list may be one of modern culture’s cleverest inventions. It converts mortality into consumer demand.

Knowing that our time is limited, we write a shopping list for ourselves. Places to visit, food to eat, experiences to encounter, and achievements to discover. Every tick means that we have lived, and every blank space means that we have not lived enough.

While some of the items in the bucket list are praiseworthy, many are not.

By looking at our bucket list, we think and believe that our happiness is in the future. We will be happier if this or that happens.

We look into the future on what we can change about our lives, our relationships and our coming achievements. But we forget about the past, and we do not live in the present.

In fact, for our bucket list to be more optimistic, we need to reflect on the past and give thanks for the present. We need to be grateful for the life events that have already occurred. It is worthwhile to reflect on the years that have already passed.

Rather than focusing on the experiences that we hope will come our way, we should look back on the experiences we have encountered. We should look at what we have already accomplished in our life. What are the things that we are grateful for? What are the boxes that we have already checked off?

We can take a pen and paper, and write down some of the past moments that have brought us joy and happiness.

While doing so, it is also good to start a bin list. Yes, a bin list where we list those things in our life that need to be trashed out as rubbish.

Philippians 3:7-8
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

In the past, many things in life were important to us. But now those things are worth nothing because of Christ. Not only those things, but all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ. Because of Christ, all of those things are worthless trash.

Throughout our life, we have hoarded rubbish. Hoarding is an ongoing and intense difficulty to part with possessions and addictions, regardless of their actual value.

As a result, we have excessive clutter in our life and living spaces. Our homes become so congested with items like old newspapers, clothes, or trash that rooms can no longer be used for their intended purposes such as sleeping in a bed or cooking in a kitchen. Even toilets are not usable because of too much rubbish.

We become distressed as we are unable to discard or let go. At the mere thought of throwing away or recycling items, we experience severe anxiety or emotional distress.

Worst still, we have a compulsive urge to acquire more rubbish. We are continually gathering and saving items, even when there is no space or need for them.

We become totally disorganized, struggling heavily with decision-making, planning, and categorizing belongings.

Besides physical items and possessions, there are also a lot of rubbish in our hearts. Sins that we retained and kept repeating, idols that we kept storing, and addictions and lusts that we could not let go.

The apostle Paul said that he was able to discard those things that he previously thought was precious. He now treated them as if they were rubbish. Why? Because Christ is more valuable and precious. In order to gain Christ, he has to throw away the rubbish in his life.

In letting go of the rubbish in our life, we will then be able to live the abundant life in Christ. We will also gain Christ.

Written on 27 September 2026