Another One Finished

I love the message on this piece "Simplify". It's hard to see the word, I've darkened the lettering since taking this photo. I didn't realize it was so light until I saw the picture. I have had this bentwood cheese box for at least 12 years. I ordered it while we were stationed in Guam with the Air Force. I had intended to paint it and sell it at one of the craft shows…I think. It’s been so long I can’t remember why I ordered it. It has sat on the shelf in at least 4 different houses. Rummaging through my studio a few weeks ago I finally pulled it off the shelf and set it aside to work on. And it sat there and sat there and sat there. I am determined to paint the stuff I already have on hand before buying anything else. I knew I had better paint this box and paint it quickly. We are going to visit some friends in Tennessee soon; while we are there, and on our way, I want to visit as many antique shops and thrift stores as possible. I really can’t justify buying anything if my “to do” shelf is full.

This time of year, like clockwork, the urge to de-clutter over takes me. I go through my closets, cupboards, drawers, desks, and pantry and start throwing out stuff or giving it away. And about the time I am finished my Handsome starts looking for something that he hasn’t used in a year. Not finding it, he usually begins the much anticipated blame of “you threw it away”. Affirmative, I probably did. I am a firm believer that I cannot keep every scrap of paper that has had something scratched on it. My Sweetie a few short years ago realized if he wanted to keep something he better be proactive and put it in a “safe” place. Sometimes he remembers where that safe place is and sometimes he forgets.

When I have the house nice and tidy I often begin to think about my spiritual house. How tidy is it? It’s as easy to clutter up the spirit in us as it is to clutter our natural dwelling. We clutter it with fears, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, deceptions, prejudice and a host of other “stuff”. When I allow these things to clutter my spiritual house I become an unproductive Christian. I do not love others as I should. I don’t have compassion on those in need, I let myself talk about others in an unfavorable way, I become envious and soon greed crops up. I start to judge others by my own criteria and I allow myself to say things I can never take back. It’s easy to see these things in others but when I start to pull away the layers of clutter in myself I see I’m the one who is guilty and in need of a cleaning. This is the time I get honest before God, He already knows anyway. He is able to wash me clean by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. When I am clean on the inside, it’s like taking a breath of fresh air again. All the weight of that clutter is gone. I can enjoy my relationship with Him and my relationship with others again.