DECLUTTER

Declutter. Does that word send shivers of dread down your spine or bring on a thrill equal to that of finding a $20 bill in the Walmart parking lot? I suppose "decluttering" is associated with Spring cleaning and it’s no coincidence, Spring officially arrived just this past Sunday. This obviously explains why I’ve seen the word "declutter" used ad nauseam over the past several days. (Ironically, some dictionaries don’t recognize "declutter" as a word! Even spell check offers no suggestions!)


The good news is that through the power of suggestion, I have been bitten by the "declutter" bug and have tackled our home with a vengeance. I have made one haul to Goodwill and am working on a second. Next up are my closets which need some sweet attention. It’s time to cull out the items I no longer want or need and pass them along.

Declutter. Simplify. In my opinion, it’s a good thing. Less things to dust, less things for my kids to deal with sometime down the road, and less to move around to make room for more stuff. Less really is more.

As I considered all the things in my house to clear out, a thought flashed through my mind. What else do I need to declutter in my life? How about negative thoughts? Oh yes, I can definitely get rid of those. How about feelings of fear, low self-esteem, insecurity? They, too, are going right out the door. Figuratively speaking, I am arming myself with the utility broom, sweeping all that garbage into a pile, and tossing it into the trash. I feel better already!

Furthermore, I would be remiss in addressing the clutter in my spiritual house, as well. What things have overcrowded my heart? Is it apathy and a lack of compassion? Could it be neglecting to be grateful, praying for others, or nurturing my relationship with Jesus Christ? These are questions on which I will meditate and address with brutal honesty.

Decluttering a closet, a house, or a garage, can be a frightening task. It may seem so overwhelming and exhausting that defeat sets in before the first toss has been made. This could be the time to call in reinforcements – a friend, a family member, or in extreme circumstances, a professional.

The same is true for decluttering your thought life or your heart. Be brave and ask someone you trust to help you. Two heads are better than one (four hands are better than two) when it comes to a difficult chore. And, when the clutter has been dealt with, and all is tidy and rearranged, a gentle peace and calmness will move in.

One Irish forebear, Statesman Edmund Burke said, "Good order is the foundation of all good things." Good order, I agree, is a worthy aspiration.

However, the wisest advice comes from Isaiah 32:17-18, "And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places." That, my friend, is the picture of a decluttered life.