I have to clean my room today. My family has been pretty patient with me. Its been getting messier and messier week by week for the last month or so. It has gotten to the point that I don’t want to be in there, let alone invite anyone else in. And it was getting stinky and dark. I’d been asked the last couple weekends to clean it, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Now, to be fair, I still have not cleaned it. I am using this post as a reason to delay. But I wanted to tell you – when I opened the windows, turned on the fan, and let the light in – I immediately could take a deep breath and realize this isn’t as bad as I let myself think, there is hope. Just that act changed a dread into an excitement. I am about to go back up to my room, clean it, and enjoy the freshness of a new place (trust me, it will be like night and day).
It reminded me of what we are doing here. Many of us are dreading the clutter and stinkiness of what’s accumulated inside of us. This year has made a mess. But this act of opening the windows, and letting the dirty air blow out, will allow the light and freshness in. Please join us in our mourning and our praising and our expressing what is inside, so that we can be renewed as spring comes.
Ok, I must admit, when I went back up to clean my room, it was a little chilly and uncomfortable. And still a lot overwhelming. But instead of folding all the clothes, I just folded a few, and put them away. And instead of picking up all the trash, I just picked up a little, and threw it away. Then I came down to warm up and take a break. I’ll go back up after this to do a couple more things — but I don’t think it will be as overwhelming this time.
That is how it is with many things I struggle with. If I try to conquer it all, I get overwhelmed and conquer nothing. But if I just do the next thing to make all other things easier, I make a little progress – which is infinitely more than nothing.
What is your next step for that overwhelming sense you have? It may be uncomfortable, but that little step will change every step that comes after.