It’s January 21st and I’m trying to stay on my New Year’s Resolution horse. The goal is to rid my life of excess and to ensure that the things I have are either used well or, if necessary, are replaced with something sure to last. Extra papers, boxes, things I was keeping “just in case,” are piling on the curb and though the results aren’t immediately obvious when you walk in the door, the inner effect is pretty great. Extra pens, cups in the cabinet, sets of sheets, books, half-full bottles of lotion – GONE to charity or trash and I am thrilling in it. De-cluttering makes for more peaceful living around the house, but aside from that, I find that I’m more able to live more gratefully now that we have a little less. When weighing whether something stays or goes, I ask myself if someone else would appreciate it more than I do; and more often than not, an affirmative answer rings in my head, setting off the cue to detach and put it in the Give Away Box.
The whole procedure has to go beyond material, though. Sure, there’s more space under my kitchen sink but what I really want is to de-clutter my soul so, like our more peaceful home living, the Holy Spirit is more free to move and work through me. As cut-throat as I can be in letting go of a shirt I haven’t worn in 3 years or tossing old college notes, I have to be the same with sin. There’s just no room; but like the rest of the junk, I’ve made space for it and held on to it for years, sometimes out of habit. The Rx for this is Mass, more frequent confessions, and individual prayer time. Without them, my soul is a wrecked room in desperate need of a dusting.
After continuing the purging process, my eyes are opened to what I have materially and spiritually. Because the whole Resolution thing is definitely a one-day-at-a-time sort of deal, today I’m focusing on the gifts of my children. Right now, several hours before they wake, I’m resolving to read to them, be silly with them, dance to songs repeated a million times over, and show them that I love them with focused enthusiasm for their littleness and innocence. My boys are often taken for granted and I need to increase how frequently I truly delight in them and their colorful personalities. Do you ever just stare at your kids in humble wonder at who they are?
The “urge to purge” is steady itch that I’m willing to scratch just about any time when it comes to my house; but I think it’s just an external sign of the internal reality that there’s more scrubbing to do in my soul than in my tub. What external tendencies do you have that are indicative of your soul’s inner-workings?
Wow…your words hit close to my home and to my soul. Never thought in terms of de-cluttering my soul but it sounds good to me and I’m going to give it a try. Thanks for the wise words…and I might work on my house too! 🙂
I heard an analogy yesterday that fits into your blog’s theme, Katie: We all live our houses and Jesus wants to be invited in. He knocks at our door, but we only pay attention periodically to the knock, because we are distracted by the mess in our house. However, Jesus is standing outside, waiting patiently, bucket in hand, looking for our inviation to enter in. He wants to help us clean up our mess! He so wants to assist us…..yet we ignore Him most of the time. Hopefully, we will allow our Lord into our “home/hearts” so order and peace can be restored! He is the only way, truth and life!…….
I love this post! I’m on a similar de-cluttering kick, thanks to YOU, by the way! We have thrown away or given away out 15+ garbage bags of stuff so far.
I wish I could declutter. I have 3 small children ages 9, 6, and 5 and there are toys everywhere.I have a wife who thinks the more stuff they have is better. I try to tell her how ridiculous it is for the kids to have this many toys and all she says is “it’s not a big deal. Get over it. It will only be like this for a 3 more years.” This from the woman who jokes at Christmas that the holy day is “about getting as much stuff as you can.” I envy you people who have spouses who have the same amount of zeal for their faith.
Thank you! of late I have found the need to de-clutter my soul too, however “it gets too much of a bother” to spend 5 minutes alone with the Lord. Your post is a reaffirmation: this exactly what I need to do. God Bless
Look into Secular Franciscan Order (it’s for the married too)….sounds like the simplicity that St. Francis spoke of.
What a beautiful post that I relate to in every way. I try to look at my children in humble wonder every day…they are true angels!