I absolutely love the season of spring.
The world shrugs off the constant grey of winter and lets in the gentle warmth of the sun. The air is still crisp in the morning and refreshing in the evening but there is a sense of hope and excitement of the long, lazy summer days that are to come.
As the weather changes, so too does my productivity.
It’s like the warmth of the sun awakens a winter hibernation of my productive “get stuff done” part of my brain.
Recently I, in a fit of organization, put a whiteboard up on the wall in the middle of my house. My grand to-do list lives on it. Who knew that getting to wipe a task off the board—and therefore the list—would actually be motivation enough to do those things?
The arrival of spring brings a season of cleaning
Of course, the arrival of spring is commonly associated with the idea of a big household spring clean—and I totally love the idea.
Maybe not so much the cleaning part. But the results afterwards are very satisfactory.
And I was thinking; if spring is a time for cleaning the house, it’s also a great opportunity for some spring cleaning of the soul.
It can be a similar process.
There’s a process you can follow
In spring cleaning, you need to assess what has to be done. Then you make sure you have the tools to do it (no point planning a dusting spree if you don’t have a duster). And then—here’s the important part—go put your plan into action!
I would suggest setting a time aside for some quiet reflection. On your own is good, or maybe you know that it’s better to chat with a trusted friend or mentor.
Here are some ideas to think about as I keep thinking of the spring clean metaphor.
Look to Jesus as your model
Some people are motivated by beautiful houses displayed in magazines. It gives them a vision to strive for when organising and cleaning their own home.
In the same way, we can look to Jesus as the vision to strive for when looking to clean up our soul. He is the one we are called to look like!
Open the windows and let the sun and the fresh air stream in. Let the light of the gospel—the good news that God loves you completely and offers his forgiveness and grace to you—soak in and fill your heart with life and light once again.
The light will also help you see more clearly if there are pockets of dirt and grime that need to be cleared out.
Declutter. Are you holding onto things that don’t actually matter? Or grudges that need to be let go? It can be a physical object you need to pass on or a matter of the heart.
Rearrange some furniture. Think of your schedule and priorities. Does anything need to be moved or removed completely?
Spring cleaning comes around year after year
There is a key similarity between spring cleaning your soul and your house and it is this—the work is never actually finished!
In time, the dust and dirt will accumulate behind the couch again.
So as much as I love it, as a person who loves wiping the task off my whiteboard, it is something that I can never fully wipe away as a completed task.
There is, however, great encouragement in knowing that the work of soul-cleaning is a spiritual work that God has promised to help me with and that it’s a work that he will bring to completion (Philippians chapter 1 talks about this).
There is also relief in knowing that when I fail, and the dust and dirt seems to build up in my soul once again, God offers grace and forgiveness through Jesus.
Happy spring cleaning!
Sarah Urmston is a follower of Jesus whose current season of life sees her fully occupied by raising two gorgeous young children with her husband Stephen. In moments when time allows for pursuits of the heart, Sarah loves to keep in touch with friends (especially thanks to Facebook), sing and play piano, and enjoy a good cup of tea.
Sarah Urmston previous articles may be viewedhttp://www.pressserviceinternational.org/sarah-urmston.html
