Spring cleaning for the soul

It’s time. The light is coming back and I can see it: grimy fingerprints on the walls, dust specks on the mirrors, crumbs in the corners. Junk. Excess. Time to clean out.

There is something invigorating about digging in, clearing away and sanitizing. A month ago, winter’s grasp found me lazy and indecisive. Not today. Today I am pulling everything out of those cupboards and tossing those outdated foods, the lidless plastic containers, and ugly collectibles. Today I will wipe everything down and finish with more space, cleaner surfaces, and a little more freedom.

One of my favorite book titles is by cleaning expert Don Aslett: “Lose 200 Pounds This Weekend: It’s Time to Declutter Your Life.” I could do with fewer pounds and less clutter. I love being able to see clean floors rather than the flotsam and jetsam that washes up from the tidepools of life and tends to coat everything. Purging is powerful.

And it’s all because of the light. More of it. In new places. Now I can see the problems. I knew they were probably there last month, but they weren’t so obvious. I could ignore them, and I did. But light makes a difference. It changes my perceptions, so I change my actions, which influences the actions of others. Light makes all the difference.

Interestingly, the growing daylight encourages me to seek more light. Time to wash my windows—I want more light! Time to polish surfaces so they reflect and enhance the light streaming in. Time to banish the dust and the gunk; it’s getting in the way of the light! And, after an Alaskan winter, I am hungry for light. I’m willing to work for it. I have a visceral need.

What happens when I feel a visceral need for the Light of the World? When I long for clarity and purity and am sick of my chaos? Am I willing to work for more light? Can I clear away time for fervent prayer? Will I remove the cobwebs in my mind so I can ponder on His Word? Might I polish up the way I treat my brothers and sisters—His children?

Sometimes, despite my messes, I get a little extra burst of light in my life—a discussion with an insightful friend, a powerful scriptural message, a tender personal miracle—and I feel drawn to Him. “Come and see,” He says. “Come unto Me.” There is more light available if you choose to let Christ in.

It may take work. I may have to plan, arm myself and go on the offensive against the dross I have accumulated in my life. Time to remove the bad habits, refurbish relationships, expunge whatever gets in the way of joy: too-much media, selfishness, carrying grudges, [add your favorite sin here]. But cleansing myself will bring in light. If I keep my eye focused on the Light of Christ, how great will be that light! (see Matt 6:22; KJV)

Through Christ we can see more clearly: what needs to be cleared away, what needs to be polished, what needs to be eliminated entirely. He willingly guides us, purifies us, sanctifies us. As we become more like him, we even begin to take on some of His light: we glow with His Spirit.

So what would my life be like if I regularly replaced an hour of drivel activities with practicing a musical instrument, or volunteering in my community, playing a game with a child or reading a great book? What could I eradicate from my life to have more peace and joy and time? Sometimes the purging has to be dramatic. But then, so can be the results. What would an Enlightened Life look like?

I wish I could clean my cabinets once and be done forever. But without my regular attention, they will deteriorate as they did before. So it is with spiritual light. Maintaining light takes daily, purposeful, divine behaviors: kindness, prayer, patience, scripture. Cleanliness of home means keeping up. But cleanliness of soul keeps us, through Christ, looking up.

Kristin Fry teaches music in the valley and is happily married with children and grandchildren across the country. Kristin is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.