Ask anyone who knows me and they would tell you I hate house cleaning. I love to cook, I don’t mind grocery shopping and doing laundry. But I despise cleaning. All of a sudden this weekend it hit me: spring cleaning is a lot like Lent (which, I must admit, I haven’t been too diligent about lately either). I went to confession this past weekend and, like almost anything that requires a commitment (exercise, volunteer work, church, etc.) I dreaded going and then afterward felt much better having gone. As I walked out of church to my car, I saw, in the dead grass along the sidewalk, a single yellow crocus just starting to bloom. And I thought, we are all like that little flower in the spring, coming out of winter hibernation. We need to struggle to rise above the “dirt” – guilt, regret, judgment, resentment – that’s been weighing us down, dust ourselves off, and re-commit ourselves to our relationship with God. The Bible says, “Now acquaint yourself with Him and be at peace; thereby good will come to you…If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; Then you will lay your gold in the dust, the Almighty will be your gold…for then you will have your delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him. He will hear you.” (Job 22:21-27) But we have to make room – to clean out the clutter first – so we can actually be open to Him. I’m finally getting that Lent, spring, is more than giving up sweets and losing weight…it’s a time to prepare, to make ourselves ready for the joy of Passover and Easter. I think this morning (since I go into work late) I will get out the dust rag, clean house and put out my spring decorations, then say a prayer of thanks. I know I’ll feel better after I do.
