Clutter

My mind feels cluttered this morning. It may be related to the upcoming holiday season. I still can’t get over the fact that Thanksgiving is in 10 days, or that Christmas is in 40 days, but it’s true. It may also be because I have what feels like 3 or 4 jobs wrapped into two. Or it may simply be that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

?But whatever the reason for your mental clutter, mondays are good days to clean up the mess. And since I’m sharing practical tips for mondays, I’ll help you clean up yours, or at least give you some easy tips to make order out of the chaos.

Just like with any clean up project, a plan must be made, and since I like lists, I’m going to give you these tips in list format.

1.  Identify the problem area. Even though chaos may feel widely prevalent, it usually can be pinpointed to a specific drawer or closet in your house. It’s the same way in your mind. Try to categorize your life into folders, and zone in on the area of disorder. For example, my chaos today is in the spiritual category of my mind. I’m having a hard time processing what God is saying through His word. I’m having some difficulties synthesizing the point God is making through my circumstances. For you, the area of chaos may be physical. You may need to focus on your body. Or it may be relational. Think about it. It’s important you identify the most disorganized drawer and start the clean up process there.

2.  Remove the trash. Over the course of time I notice that unnecessary build up accumulates even in the most orderly of homes. Things you think you may need but never use again are still laying in that same old drawer. After some time, that ugly drawer becomes the place in which you just shovel all sorts of trash. It’s the same way in your mind. If you haven’t cleaned it up for a while, I assure you there is some unwanted material in it. Get rid of it. Just ditch it. Take it out, don’t ask any questions, and throw it out. Bringing it closer to home, let me use that illustration of the spiritual clutter I’m feeling. Over time I’ve noticed that I’m spread too thin with my reading material and my devotional thoughts. I need to trim things up. I need to deepen my thoughts not widen them. I also notice that I’ve let some sin creep in. That’s personal and I’m not going to delve into the details, but I know exactly what I need to clean up and I plan on doing it – today!

3.  Organize the good stuff. After you get rid of the garbage, a great next step is to simply organize what’s left in that drawer. Start in small ways. Categorize. Prioritize. Organize. I love that concept. It brings me peace and joy. You may not be able to clean up the entire drawer in one day. I suggest baby steps, but if you’re like me, you’re going to be so excited about the end result of order, you will want to take the time to finish this job as soon as possible. Again, let me apply this in the area of my spiritual disorder. This morning, I got my Bible out and read 1 verse. Just 1 verse. Hebrews 12:14. It says “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” I’m breaking this down. I’m meditating on it. I’m chewing on it. I’m praying over it. I’m going to swallow it before I take another bite. I’m going to pitch my tent in it and stay there for a while until I’m fully ready for a new word. I’m applying it and I’m living it before I move on.

4. Review your accomplishments. I think it’s important to step back from time to time and take a good look at all the drawers in your closet and all the rooms in your house to review how far along you’ve come. Most of us don’t take enough time to do this.  I’ve found that chaos can be propagated by the overwhelming nature of the job at hand. For instance, when I walk into the ER and it’s super busy, it’s easy to feel run over by a truck, or wiped out by an avalanche. But instead of letting the hugeness of the chaos overwhelm me, I pick one chart up at a time and tackle the problems one patient a time. After a while, I notice that even though the chaos has not completely disappeared, my realization that I’ve put a dent in the mountain gives me a sense of hope. God has done so much in my life. When I stop and realize the extent of his blessings in my life, I’m given a sense of renewed hope and peace. And even though He and I may be working on that problem drawer, an appreciation for all the good He has done encourages me to keep at it.

So there you have it. It’s a little wordy, but I’m cleaning things up today!

Now you do the same.

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