Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning

Spring is here… although it’s been pretty mixed up this week. I don’t know about you, but my heater was still coming on on Monday and Tuesday. Nevertheless, according to the calendar, it’s spring. Time to open up the house and let the sunshine in. Time to grab a few dozen trash bags, go through all the closets, and throw away everything that has cluttered up the house. Time for spring cleaning!

I am painfully aware that this year I need to dedicate myself to cleaning out some boxes in the garage and some from the basement. I also need to purge some items from closets.

Cleaning Out the Junk

Actually, I decided the other day that a good first step was to clean the junk out of my head first. This time of year my head feels like one of those closets that you try not to open, because you know that when you do, you will be placing your life in danger; you know that when you open that door, it’s going to start a deadly avalanche because too many times in the past year you have opened it a small crack–just enough to throw in something that needs to be out of the way–just for now–but then you never revisit it, and more things get thrown in on top. Have you ever had a closet like that?

For a teacher, this time of year gets really busy with field trips, exams, turning in final grades on time, making sure students who are missing work have made it up, plus book, material, and equipment inventories–and I’m the drama teacher, so there’s the spring play. I’m also the senior class sponsor, so there’s graduation. There’s also home life and keeping up with sending cards and greetings to five children and twelve grandchildren who all live in other states, and making plans for summer trips. Then there’s a cat with a sensitive tummy and allergies that enjoys playing with mice instead of killing them.

In addition to that, I can be a pretty good pity party planner. I love my life and I love my job, however, if I feel like I’ve been treated unjustly, I want to tell someone–you know, the c-word–complain. And just give me one problem, and I’ll be distracted until it’s fixed. You may be like me–a fixer. I’m driven to find a way to make things right. I can actually feel myself going down the road when that happens. Thankfully, that’s when God sends me a gentle reminder that He is more than willing to help.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Just Embarrassing

One day I was complaining to a co-worker about my internet going out during class and how I couldn’t possibly be expected to finish my job if the people in charge of that didn’t get their ducks in a row–pitiful, pitiful me–complaining … until I remembered who I was complaining to. 

I have this student. He was in the 4th grade when one day, suddenly, he became weak and could not stand. The doctors discovered that he had suffered a pediatric stroke. He was in the hospital for months, and when he finally came home, he was in a wheelchair. Many older and wiser people would have stopped there–just given up– but he did not quit; nor did his family. They leaned on God as they went to Pittsburgh for his therapy, and eventually he began to walk with a brace even though he could not feel his foot. He got tired easily. He could not keep up with his friends. But he never gave up and he never made excuses. Throughout the whole ordeal, we all prayed for him and his family claimed the Word of God for his healing. Isaiah 35:3-6:

Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;

say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.

Last fall, I saw that same young man on the basketball court; I watched him play in the band and sing in the choir and perform on the stage. I saw him win academic awards, and county and state trophies. I know he wasn’t on the mountain top every minute. I know for certain that he faced frustration and doubt, but whenever I saw him, he had a smile on his face. 

So there I was complaining about my internet when I realized that it was that young man’s mother to whom I was complaining–the one who had literally walked through life and death with her young son. There I was with the imaginary weight of the world on my shoulders, yet I was walking on both feet with breath in my lungs and in really remarkable health for my age. 

I excused myself and walked away, ashamed, and I started to pray, “God, I gotta get rid of this annoying habit of feeling sorry for myself when the most minuscule thing goes wrong in my day. I mean, I have so much to be thankful for, but how do I do this? 

Where Do I Begin?

In Matthew 11:28-30, the Lord tells me, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here’s another thing since I’m confessing stuff today: I must admit that I am the queen of unfinished projects. I’m a great starter. Following through is a different story. So this cleaning out all the junk in my head–that cluttered up closet—means dealing with worry, ungratefulness, and general pessimism.  It will not be easy. I wonder, how do I stop worrying, doubting, fearing, getting angry, and becoming impatient?

Then I hear that still small voice say, “You can start with this moment, and every moment, you can start again.”

I have to pause and laugh at myself. Of course! The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, as does any big spring-cleaning job. 

So about that closet of mine: Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and fellowship with him and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). God somehow gave me the reassurance that that door was not only the big door to my heart, but it was also the door to my cluttered closet–that one that’s scary to open–that one where I throw all of life’s junk that I can’t deal with at the moment. He wants access to that door, as well. I’m ashamed to let Him see it, but the clutter doesn’t frighten Him, surprise Him, or offend Him. Truly, He’s the only One who can clean it up. My job is to allow Him to do it–one stress, one fear, one problem at a time.

Allow God to Open the Door

When He finds worry, He says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

When He finds doubt, He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

When He finds fear, He says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

When He finds anger, He says, “…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

When He finds impatience, He says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

When He finds stress, He invites me to “Cast all [my] anxieties on Him, because He cares for [me]” (1 Peter 5:7).

And when I can’t fix it, He says, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God’s Got This!

I was in chapel on Wednesday, and I saw a piece of notebook paper folded and stuck in the hymnal rack. Thinking it was just trash, I opened it to write something down, and on the paper in a child’s writing it said, ”God helped me when a log fell on my leg. ‘His steadfast love ‘endors’ forever.’” And in all capital letters it said, “GOD IS SO BIG!” I think that child has at least one clean closet!

I can’t say that I completely understand how or why my life got so cluttered, but at least I know who can clean it up. It may never be finished in this life, but I’m going to believe the scripture that tells me that “He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). I’m going to open the doors for Him.  As God continues the process, I will absolutely appreciate the help.

Alright, Lord, I’m ready to begin!