Day 15 of Lent

Psalm 24:1-10

*Mark 7:1-23 *

2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

“Then Jesus called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile… For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come ’
~Mark 7:14-15,21

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(A letter of advice from a mom to her daughters
                                   ...and a great metaphor for Lenten hearts) 

“Clean your room. Clear your mind.”

I know this is something I’ve said to each of you on more than one occasion. At first, it seems like the words of a nagging mother: “Clean your room!”  (Of course when you lived at home, that was usually the case. Your room was a mess, and it stressed me out!)

Later, when away at college these words served a different purpose. Without seeing your room, I uttered these words over the phone when I could sense you were upset or stressed. I’m sure you probably thought I had lost my mind. You called and shared some problem with a class, a roommate, a professor, a project, or something else and before the conversation ended, I told you to clean your room.

There were two reasons for this advice. First, when you feel stressed it helps to get your mind off your problem. Throwing away bags of “stuff” symbolizes throwing out your problems. When you clean your room (or house) it clears your mind and you feel better.

The second reason for this advice is because when you’re surrounded by clutter it affects how you feel. Piles of books and papers, dirty clothes on the floor, and shoes scattered across the room make you feel out of sorts. It’s miserable tripping on things or knocking drinks over or dealing with stickiness from spills. It’s no wonder living in a mess increases your level of stress!

There is a saying that goes something like this, “a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind”. I think there’s a lot of truth in this. Avoid a cluttered mind, alleviate some of your stress, clean your room and clear your mind…. So that you can focus on what’s really important.

Love,
     ~Mom
    (Dee McCullum)  

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Prayer Practice:
Practicing God’s Presence.
Prayer can take many forms (even cleaning).
Today, find a simple task—cooking or driving—and think of God’s presence with you in the midst of it. Talk to God while you work.

“Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I've no time to be a great saint, make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates.”
~Brother Lawrence

                                                                    

("Give Us Clean Hands" by Charlie Hall)