Spring Cleaning

I just started a new book titled "Ordinary: Sustainable faith in a radical, restless world" by Michael Horton. I'm only a little way into the book, but so far what I've been gleaning from it has been very good and encouraging. Thus far the premise has been that we (as a society, culture, and the church) too often overlook that which is good, truthful, life-giving, and Biblical, in our attempts to always be on the cutting edge of the something new and exciting. There is a great pressure nowadays - especially among younger people - to be doing something "radical" or counter-cultural. Instead of this, the author encourages us - followers of Christ as individuals and as the Church - to "being open to the never-changing and yet always-new power of God's Word as our only norm for faith and practice." (This comes as no surprise from the man who is the editor-in-chief of my Dad's favorite magazine).

Tonight this line from this book struck me: "So let's allow the parade to pass us by as it marches behind The Next Big Thing. Instead, let's do a little spring cleaning each day. There will be some forgotten treasures amid a lot of clutter. 'But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good' (I Thess. 5:21)", perhaps because I just spent yesterday doing some spring cleaning around my apartment. My thoughts as I reflect on this:

• Even though I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning my apartment, it's still the same apartment. My living room is in the same place, the furniture in my bedroom hasn't changed, and, by and large, everything looks the same as it did the day before. How often do I fall into the trap of thinking that any real change must immediately result in an "extreme makeover"-type results? Real change is incremental, and sometimes hard to notice at first glance.
• What did I clean yesterday? I purged a bunch of stuff that had been sitting in a back storage closet. Why had I been keeping those items? I think fear. Fear that I would need them someday and not have it. (Because of course I need to keep that junky suitcase that I haven't used in years. Or that vacuum cleaner that doesn't work very well.) Suitcases and vacuum cleaners aside, what other "junk" am I holding on to out of fear? What else am I clinging to in fear that if I let it go, I'll need it later on. Isn't this type of fear the same as having a lack of trust that God will provide for my every needs? 
• Why did I clean yesterday? One, because the cat hair was out of control. I seriously vacuumed up enough of the stuff to make a whole 'nother kitty. But also to make room. A dear friend is  staying with me this summer, and she arrives this week. I had to get the spare room ready for her, and doing that led to a (much needed) purging and cleaning. I'm looking forward to the joy of having my friend around this summer. What other joys could be filling my life if I took the time to clear away soul-junk and do some heart-cleaning and clean out the fear, disbelief, and pride? 
• How did I feel at the end of the day yesterday? Exhausted. And a bit sore this morning. But satisfied, and at rest. Spring cleaning may not be as much work as doing a complete home renovation, but it's still work. And work is good for the soul.

How about you? Do you need to do some spring cleaning too?