Spring Cleaning

[written by Pastor Becky Todd]
I have been doing some catching up and cleaning out projects around our home and at church. As I sift through accumulations, some almost thirty years old, I wonder why has this stuff stacked up?  Was it forgotten?  Did someone think it might be useful again?  I have items saved because I "hope for" the right opportunity I might use them again. But as the dust settles, I have to ask would it be better to move it on to someone else who can make use of it more than I could?  Is this stuff I have moved three times worth taking up it's space in my life. My Grandfather always said, "I might need that", but the "might-day" never came.  Are some of those piles at church, just reminders of days long past that we hope we get back to again?  Some of those "might" things are no longer applicable in our current time. 

I've been reflecting on the spiritual applications of these piles; though not a physical pile, we tend to stack up things in our soul.  Some of these feel familiar to me; unforgiveness, emotional pain, an anxious heart, unresolved grief.  I think you get the idea.  We carry around things that weigh us down.  Are these things worth carrying around or keeping stacked up in that quiet lonely corner of our life waiting for the right moment to release them.  A word to the wise, the release often comes in an un-welcomed way, like reacting instead of responding.  At some point, it can become so over-whelming that we live with it and we become blinded to the effects it has in our life and relationships with God and others.  Once in a while we need to stop, examine the pile, sort through it's value in our present life, receive God's healing where it's needed and embrace the moment.  God's Word says the moment is now! 

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  God is not saying to ignore the past.  Self-reflection, counseling to heal past hurts, Biblical accountability all have tremendous value. But, he does say dwelling, or living in the past is not the way.  God wants to do a new work in us!  He longs to bring fresh streams of water to our cluttered, junky souls!  When we emerge to the other side of the wilderness (and wilderness can be hard work) we find the open field (Psalm 18:19).  Let's live in the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 

Happy Spring cleaning!