Sweeping Away Great Intentions

The wave of relief that swept over me after each day was done was amazing! It was like having a great weight lifted. Something was actually accomplished!

My wife and I entered a wonderful holiday weekend(just past) intent upon getting a clean up done and a number of odd jobs cleaned up. It began Thursday PM and finished Monday late evening.

I fixed, I sorted, I tore apart, I painted, I completed a promised job and then I collapsed.

Where did all this stuff come from? I know that one came from “D” when she could couldn’t use it any more. It had been too good to through out – so we took it home. “D’s” place was cleaner mine added clutter. Yesterday I dealt with “D’s” stuff.

Then there was “M’s” stuff…a whole lot of it. It almost blocked the entrance of the garage over the winter because it was everywhere. Yesterday it was sorted – keepers here – ‘Value Village’ stuff there. “V.V.’s” pile of stuff is bigger than ours now.

The “old furniture pile” – with things that might be good, things that we intend to use some day, and things that must be done now – grows all the time. Maybe the originally empty garage just attracts this kind of pile.

Add to all of this was the “I didn’t even know I had that stuff” pile…with a whole lot of “so that’s where it went” mixed in.

“How does one collect all this stuff?” Or should it be asked, “How does it get attracted to me and my garage?” I kind of look away when some one asks that kind of question…embarrassed I think the answer, “I dunno… I think it all came from China….”

A huge burden lifted…
Last evening I felt it again… a burden was lifted. A weight was gone. So were a whole lot of tasks that were accomplished, furniture repaired, and stuff gone.

I am not done yet. This week will be another powerful time I anticipate. Tonight more will be done. That is my promise to my garage. It smiled when I made it – I am sure.

Pausing again…
My garage is so much like life – my life – not yours. Stuff collects after months of living. There is a desperate need to sort and clean some of the stuff that has gathered. Some was piled up because things happened quickly. Others were added when problems came our way. All of it needs to be cleaned thoroughly.

Over in this corner of my experience is “stinky thinking”. In the opposite corner is clouded attitude. In the middle are desperate aspirations that were never accomplished. Scattered between the piles is the dust bunnies of exasperated hope, that roles from one pile to the next. Then there is my stool of numbness where I sit and look at the piles.

Oh boy… I gotta run. I have to get started on another day of possibility. Only 10 hours of work at a cluttered office…then back to the garage! The anticipation is over whelming at this stage.

The one favorite Confucius statement is mine again. I found it under a pile in my life experience. It states, “The start of any 1000 mile journey is the first step.”

The battle is on…
I discovered a great web site after beginning this work of cleaning up. It offers some good description of “me”. In fact it tells me that I have five parts… or five voices telling me stuff. They are…

• The Hoarder: "This might come in handy someday!
  
• The Deferrer: "I'll think about that tomorrow!"


• The Rebel: "I don't wanna and you can't make me!"


• The Perfectionist: "Next week, I'll organize everything--perfectly!"


• The Sentimentalist: "Oh, the little darling!"

No wonder I talk to myself!
Oh Boy!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS - the Mask shown above is the "Clutter God" face mask....

R4M - Resources 4 Me
http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/organizing101/a/4cntnrmthdclttr.htm
The Clutter Within: What's Your Clutter Personality?
http://www.organizedhome.com/clutterer-within-whats-your-clutter-personality

Proverbs 6
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.