Are you beginning to think about spring cleaning?
Soon this annual task will be forefront on everyone’s mind: What to keep? What to toss? And where to put things once we decide?
One problem I frequently face when trying to organize is that I would begin with one area and decide okay I have to put this sort of thing over here — in ‘spot one,’ let’s say. But of course because I’m just getting started, ‘spot one’ already has stuff in it. So then I think, okay let’s look at this other pile over here, and then I’ll put these sorts of things in ‘spot two’ over there. But, wouldn’t you know it, ‘spot two’ is also currently occupied. Frustrated, I decide to postpone the challenge to another day. But of course by then the task has only grown more difficult!
This problem must be common to many who find themselves disillusioned and disorganized — as the popularity of books advocating a more simplified and organized way of living appear to testify (e.g The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, The Joy of Less, etc…).
One such book promotes a process which typically begins by making a huge pile of everything you have in the middle of your living room floor! This sounds radical but the advantage is that now every storage place in the house is empty ! Next, you begin picking through the pile — not taking things to their destinations right off the bat, but by making many separate piles of related items all around the floor. In addition to these ‘category piles’ you will also make a pile for ‘items needing more thought’ (where to assign them). You will also build a pile for ‘items to give away,’ and another for things to trash.
Finally, after many hours work when you have your house full of sorted piles and your storage spaces still empty, you can begin to assign storage locations with capacity appropriate for to the quantities of items you have for each category. The bigger the pile the bigger the storage area necessary for that particular group of related items. (This is why you make the piles first rather than take items directly to a particular storage area. Only when you are done sorting into piles will you know how large a storage area will be needed for each pile.)
Well our lives can get all a-clutter too! They can lose their focus and start going in many directions at once. It becomes time for a personal inventory and resorting.
One definition for “organization” is “a group that is ordered around a particular purpose.” As a new or seasoned follower of Christ you have a new “particular purpose.” Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matt. 6:33). This is the central pile from which to sort out all the other components of your life. Some parts will need to be trashed, some may be gifted to others. But the stuff you hold on to will have renewed focus and purpose.
It’s a big task, but you are not alone in working at it. You have Christ Himself, His indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Word of God to help you. You have the wisdom and fellowship of other believers to guide and encourage you, and you have the hope of eternity to inspire you.
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12, 13).
Press on…
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