The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Life!

September 26, 2008

It’s Christmas every day for clutterbugs

Inside Out column

By Bev Davis

Well, I’m cleaning out closets again. It’s been about four years now, and I must say I’m actually enjoying it.

Digging through the racks and stacks, I’ve often experienced the absolute glee of a child on Christmas morning when I’ve stumbled upon some long-lost item.

“There’s the black sweater I looked for all winter last year! Oh, this is great, there’s a pair of summer sandals I’ve forgotten about! Wow, I can wear those next year! A $5 bill crumpled up in the pocket of a wrinkled jacket is a real windfall. Now I can buy a gallon of gas for the lawnmower!”

You clutterbugs reading this are all smiling, because you can relate. Those of us who are a bit messier than most have lots of Christmas morning moments. Our lives are like an ongoing game of Memory. We find something that’s part of a set and know that some time back we saw the other piece of the puzzle.

I do wish I were a bit neater, but at this stage in life, I’m afraid that’s not likely to happen. I’ve often said, “Those Merry Maids wouldn’t be so merry if they spent a day cleaning MY house!”

De-cluttering is hard for me, I’ll admit. Making those decisions of what to keep, what to give away and what to throw away are far more complicated for those of us who attach sentimental values to so many things.

Discerning how to sort out my spiritual clutter is far less fun and way more time-consuming.

Pulling a clothing item out of the closet allows me to see it, feel it and discern more effectively what I should do with it. Examining character flaws is much more difficult, because we don’t see ourselves as others see us. We tend to overlook our own faults because we’re so busy shining the spotlight on someone else’s.

Spiritual closet-cleaning takes time and introspection. It also takes honesty. It’s a process of give-and-take.

For each character flaw we discard, we should replace it with a good character trait.

We may even find a few of those good virtues buried beneath the clutter.

I certainly would like to have some of those Christmas morning moments and discover I’ve tucked away a whole wardrobe full of grace, mercy and generosity. I know lots of people who would like to see me wear those more often.

Then, it would be like Christmas Day for everybody — all year long.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com

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