February 19, 2015

House Cleaning – Heart Clearing

Read: Philippians 4:8-9

Discard the Unsightly, Value the Good, Clean the Dirty, Tend the True, Bring in the Fresh, Make Room for a Guest.

Some people do seasonal cleaning and sorting out of their homes, closets, cupboards, behind the sofa, around the doors and windows. Some people do smaller cleaning chores on a regular basis, never having to turn the whole house upside down at once. Then there are some, as they age (no names will be mentioned here) to whom those dirty corners and unsightly spots become less important.

Twice a year, GPUMC offers the opportunity for each of us to get rid of some of the clutter that we might otherwise go on living with. Thank goodness for the semi-annual Rummage Sales. But everyone has to consider what is important and what has just become disorganized clutter, making life more complicated. And, since we make the effort to clean our houses, to make room for those things that add meaning to our lives.

At Christmas time, we sing

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let Earth receive her King,

Let every heart prepare Him room ….”

For some, it is easier to rid our houses of clutter than to remove the clutter in our minds and hearts. How do we do that? Choose more wisely what we read? the TV programs we watch? our activities? even our friends? Again, GPUMC offers help for this type of cleaning, too. There are Advent and Lenten Studies, UMW offers a Book/Bible study once a year, and spiritually motivating activities year-round. Regular attendance on Sunday morning should not be overlooked. Some people gain by singing in the Choir, playing the Bells, or providing other music to enhance our worship experience. With clutter removed from our hearts, there is room for Christ and all that He offers. Then, “Heaven and nature will sing!”

My youngest sister died recently. My family has been very supportive as has my church. Through times of illness or grief it is so helpful to be with people who can nourish our spirits. Thanks be to God.

Carol Ann Maleitzke