For those who don't quite get what the title of my blog today meant, today in the Church is Ash Wednesday. No meat today, no eating between meals, you go to church and get burnt palm leaves from the year before spread across your forehead in the shape of a cross, and you are supposed to "give up" something for the Lenten season. As a kid it also meant having this cardboard "bowl" which we were to collect money for the poor in. Usually, mine wound up with pennies in it because we didn't have alot of money growing up. With 5 mouths to feed on top of their own and trying to pay for Catholic schooling, there were many times my parents barely even had two pennies left after it all.
Call me a bad Catholic if you must, but every year since my childhood I tended to avoid Ash Wednesday, make the excuse that I couldn't eat fish (although I am not very fond of it anyways...) in order to get out of that dilemma, and usually make something up the day before Easter to tell everyone I had given up. This year I am going to do it different. This year, I am going to make Lent (the time of preparation towards Easter and in which we are reminded of the impending anniversary of Christ dieing on the cross to save us from our sins...) a time that I follow. This year I will give up something because I have found that like a house, the more clutter I have, the more chaotic my life can be.
I can't help but think about the tv show "Hoarders" about people whose lives have become so full of mess and clutter and dead things that they can barely function. They continue to pile things one on top of another in order to fulfill something missing in their lives until they can't move, breathe, or they push people away. In a way, for us Catholics, lent is that time of cleaning for us. I use to see it as a negative thing...something that I had to give up that I liked...and that made it hard to let go of whatever it was I was "giving up" for lent. Maybe if we clean ourselves internally of all the mess and give up that which we are holding on to we can feel free. Isn't that what Christ's dieing was for us? A freedom event? It was an event meant to be a sign that we were forgiven of our sins and a gateway to heaven was opened up for us so that we might enter upon our death.
So, what is it that I am giving up for Lent? Well, this lent I am continuing on the journey of bettering myself. Today, unbeknowest to my husband, I will begin getting rid of the clutter in our home. I want to simplify. Why do I need 14 drawers and a closet full of clothes just for me? Why do I need to hold on to so much stuff with the claim that I could fix it to save money? So, today I will be starting to rid myself of unnecessary items. No more holding on to the old phones that we don't need anymore, no more holding on to close when I can donate it to help others. My task today, is to start doing that internally. What am I holding onto and why? Isn't it time to release those things I am holding on to? The anger, the lack of being able to forgive, trust issues; all those last 23 days! Today I begin the journey of lent ridding myself of what held me back. Someone recently told me that today really is the first day of the rest of my life. Today, I plan to live that.
What are you doing for lent?
It's Lent already? I don't know if I'm doing anything since I haven't even thought about it. One good thing, that should mean that spring is getting closer.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to getting rid of things, you might talk to Dawn about her "27 Boogie Fling", or is it 26? Anyway it does work.
Good for you Melissa. You are correct all the way around. Clutter weighs you down rather it be personal or household items. Try closing your eyes, take in a deep breath of whomever has caused you "clutter" in your life and call them by name with the thought that this is the last time you will allow them any significant time and energy, as you blow out release them. Smile, wave goodbye, go to a mirror and look at the person before you and smile again. This is also a time for prayer for me to thank God for the strength to allow me to let go and allow God in.
ReplyDeleteAs for the the 27 fling boogie Dave referred to. Flylady.net can give you instructions. That is who I learned 27 fling boogie from and it's free. Love that.
That is simple. Grab boxes and mark them keep, donate and trash. Pick a drawer, side of a closet or what ever you want to 27 fling boogie. Set a timer for 15 minutes. No longer. As you fill the boxes try counting the items. More is better but 27 is minimum. If a box is full, close it and do not reopen under any circumstances. Close it and put it in your trunk for donations and trash can for trash. Your keep box needs to be put away now not later. Your fifteen minutes should be up. Set down and read something for you. Repeat if you want but don't over do. You will burn yourself out. Do this daily until you are feeling uncluttered. It will not take long. When you are satisfied with your closets and drawers, make sure anything you purchase and bring home, you must let go of an item for an item.
As for Lent, I did not know it was Ash Wednesday until a client approched me with a cross on her forhead. I have to give this some thought.