Clutter Corner
I think everybody has one. For me I have labeled it “Clutter Corner”. It is an area of my garage that holds everything that has no place to go. Or it is a place that also catches the stuff that gets dumped when I am on the run. In my garage it is just behind the door as you walk in. Few people can see it when the door is open thus hiding the mess.
Yesterday was declared as “Attack the Clutter Corner Day”. It took the better part of the day to get it cleaned up and organized – but I did it!
The “How To” of cleaning Cutter Corner is simple but it takes effort. First you pull everything out of the corner making one huge mess in the open area and the driveway. The true sign of the fact that you have begun and that there is no turning back is the mountain of stuff. At this stage the pile in the middle is frightening and can actually jump up to hurt you – or you twist an ankle just getting over or around it. This is likely why I avoided doing something to the corner in the first place.
Next is a plan to sort, get rid of and throw out the junk that was hiding there under the other stuff. It is amazing what I found in the treasures buried in the corner. There were five year old and six year old things lost there on a run from the garage. Most all of it was covered with spider webs and other creepy crawlers.
Then I assembled a new rack and storage table that I made from old lumber that is recycled. It is amazing and it holds more than I even planned for. The hanging racks in the corner hold the many extension cords that were piled together like so many octopi.
My neighbours will be shocked when they come over tonight. I have gained six feet of new walkway into the garage. That has increased from a one foot path, that when negotiated needed a turn sideways here and small step there over that box – then a straight area that turned into another right or left turn to proceed further. Last night I sat for over an hour just enjoying the space. Clutter Corner is now sparkling clean and organized. I am proud of it.
Now walking to the edge of the six foot path there is another obstruction. It is a wall of more stuff that will be dealt with this week sometime.
Two things happened yesterday as I dealt with Clutter Corner. One – I was able to get it done. Two – I spent the entire day by myself. I never talked to anyone. That is a respite moment from business and Life Clutter.
Life and Mind Clutter…
The other day I read another scary article where more stuff that we use is now condemned. They now are attacking the plastic water bottles because of their polluting qualities and because they are not being recycled. In the same MacLeans Magazine they told how Al Gore flew into Regina to tell his tale of green houses gases and pollution and the rest of his song and dance. His private jet spewed more pollution than all the cows of Saskatchewan would in 6 months of eating and secreting.
As I read some of the articles and then had to deal with the Clutter that was provided I came to realize that my own life and mind can have the same kind of problems that Clutter Corner has. Too much useless junk that needs to be moved and removed have clogged the channels of creativity. Things that should be organized and stored properly have accumulated there as well.
I am working on this one as well. Today is Sorting the Thoughts Day. I am working through some complicated arrangements that need extra care. When this is done a new six foot path will be opened as well within my thinking.
Clutter Corner and Cluttered thinking have come together in one simple thought however. I still can’t find my mouse trap that the mouse ran away with… maybe tonight.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Yesterday was declared as “Attack the Clutter Corner Day”. It took the better part of the day to get it cleaned up and organized – but I did it!
The “How To” of cleaning Cutter Corner is simple but it takes effort. First you pull everything out of the corner making one huge mess in the open area and the driveway. The true sign of the fact that you have begun and that there is no turning back is the mountain of stuff. At this stage the pile in the middle is frightening and can actually jump up to hurt you – or you twist an ankle just getting over or around it. This is likely why I avoided doing something to the corner in the first place.
Next is a plan to sort, get rid of and throw out the junk that was hiding there under the other stuff. It is amazing what I found in the treasures buried in the corner. There were five year old and six year old things lost there on a run from the garage. Most all of it was covered with spider webs and other creepy crawlers.
Then I assembled a new rack and storage table that I made from old lumber that is recycled. It is amazing and it holds more than I even planned for. The hanging racks in the corner hold the many extension cords that were piled together like so many octopi.
My neighbours will be shocked when they come over tonight. I have gained six feet of new walkway into the garage. That has increased from a one foot path, that when negotiated needed a turn sideways here and small step there over that box – then a straight area that turned into another right or left turn to proceed further. Last night I sat for over an hour just enjoying the space. Clutter Corner is now sparkling clean and organized. I am proud of it.
Now walking to the edge of the six foot path there is another obstruction. It is a wall of more stuff that will be dealt with this week sometime.
Two things happened yesterday as I dealt with Clutter Corner. One – I was able to get it done. Two – I spent the entire day by myself. I never talked to anyone. That is a respite moment from business and Life Clutter.
Life and Mind Clutter…
The other day I read another scary article where more stuff that we use is now condemned. They now are attacking the plastic water bottles because of their polluting qualities and because they are not being recycled. In the same MacLeans Magazine they told how Al Gore flew into Regina to tell his tale of green houses gases and pollution and the rest of his song and dance. His private jet spewed more pollution than all the cows of Saskatchewan would in 6 months of eating and secreting.
As I read some of the articles and then had to deal with the Clutter that was provided I came to realize that my own life and mind can have the same kind of problems that Clutter Corner has. Too much useless junk that needs to be moved and removed have clogged the channels of creativity. Things that should be organized and stored properly have accumulated there as well.
I am working on this one as well. Today is Sorting the Thoughts Day. I am working through some complicated arrangements that need extra care. When this is done a new six foot path will be opened as well within my thinking.
Clutter Corner and Cluttered thinking have come together in one simple thought however. I still can’t find my mouse trap that the mouse ran away with… maybe tonight.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
2 Comments:
Your exercise with the Clutter Corner was certainly a vivid picture of the clutter that can be accumulated in our lives, most especially in our hearts and minds. You are correct; we must take care of the clutter in our lives. We need to rid ourselves of the clutter to be able to live a victorious and fulfilled life. It is just simply too difficult to function efficiently and grow as a person if our hearts and mind are filled with junk.
By
Anonymous, at 1:18 PM
Great thoughts Murray. We are in the process of selling our house so the clutter is gone, but I identified with your view. The difference between an uncluttered life that is lived with purpose and a cluttered life that goes in circles is significant. Clearing out our "stuff" makes more room for the love and light of God in our lives, and that can only be a good thing!
By
Tim Schindel, at 1:10 AM
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