The last two-to-three months has found our family in the midst of two property renovation projects. Gratefully, this weekend we finished up the last touches on the second house we are putting on the market. As I dusted and wiped down the ceiling fans, it occurred to me: we each are like a busy fan whirling and whirling. Like the ceiling fan I was cleaning, we too are frantically flying through our days working, or trying to get from point A to point B, meeting goals, beating deadlines, checking off our to do lists, or even distracting ourselves to death; however, we are nonetheless collecting dust, stains of the earth. Newton proved that objects in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force; but dust seems to land on anything moving or stationary!
In the frantic pace of life, even for people like myself who try to keep a simple, steady rhythm, we circle round again and discern that we haven’t taken the time to stop and reflect on our souls, our situations, our strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps, at best, we have paused. We haven’t completely halted to inspect the accumulation of dust, rather we have forged on with little notice of the cleaning of the heart and mind that needs our attention.
Hearts, like fans hurtling headlong day in and day out, can look the picture of health and beauty, but upon closer inspection can be layered with a thick covering of dust and earthly filth.
In our own homes, we tend to get in the spring cleaning mode as the spring days quickly glide into summer. We may find that we are dusting off shelves, emptying closets, and cleaning out drawers…even cleaning ceiling fans. As we do that, perhaps those actions could be mirrored in spring cleaning of the soul. Some time to stop and consider:
- what practices do I need to cease in order to become more like the image of Christ?
- what practices should I resume or initiate?
- who do I need to forgive, or forgive again?
- who do I need to seek forgiveness from?
- where am I wasting resources that could be of better advantage used differently?
- what is God whispering to me by the power of His Holy Spirit that I’ve been too busy to notice?
- what leading have I dodged from the Holy Spirit?
- what have I been lamenting over that I need to praise God for?
- what passion needs to be further put into practice to see God’s Kingdom come?
- what distraction do I need to do away with?
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ~Psalm 51:10
It seems ceiling fans aren’t the only thing that needs a little dusting off.
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