Well, first of all, I'll say this isn't the type of cleaning that comes to mind for most of us. This type of cleaning has to do with tying up loose ends before the year is over. Handling the unresolved crap in our lives so we can move forward with the new shiny stuff.
It could be anything in our life that is unresolved.
You know, it's good to do a periodic check-in from time to time and deal with stuff like this. Taking life's inventory could happen once every three to six months. The important thing is not to let the stuff build up. Let's be intentional and take a conscious look at it. Sometimes we can be unaware it's happened at all.
When I say unresolved I mean anything that wasn't finished in the past. It could be the recent past or years ago and be a fallout with a friend or spouse. It could be making an agreement that should have never been made with ourselves or others. Not dealing with stuff that has been allowed to build up in your life over months or years can corrode the moving parts of our lives. It's important and crucial we deal with these things so we can move forward, not taking yucky unfinished stuff into the future. This frees up our minds, setting the stage for good mental and physical health.
Dealing with losses could be grieving a loved one, a divorce, a fight with a friend, or even a dream that died. It could be a failure, and realizing the part we played in it. I've learned that regardless of the type of loss, acknowledging it can help in the healing and growth process.
Anything in the past that is amiss can get in our future's way if left unresolved. It can turn into anger or depression, an unhealthy rebound into another bad relationship after a breakup, or turn into an alcohol or sex addiction, because our relationship issues were left unresolved.
Sometimes we must go to the house of mourning and let cleansing be welcomed in our souls. Not by putting a band-aid on these things will they heal or by going to the house of pleasure. Ecclesiastes 7
Losses are meant to be dealt with. If you need help, reach out to a clergy member, a friend or therapist. There are two ways we deal with loss and the Bible speaks of them. They are tears and confession. We were made with a mouth and tear ducts. God had a perfect plan in mind when he designed us, so let's let all the crap go and move to brighter days. A good cry and talk flushes out the system. It opens us up to repentance (which is just going the other direction) for some of us it may take some time, but starting it is half the battle, and that's a really good thing! Bravo!
So clean the house! Everyone likes a clean space and we can relax knowing things are in their own place or in the trash. Figuratively, literally, and spiritually speaking. In certain situations we must tear down to build anew. New relationships will flourish, new healthy habits can be formed and new futures can be embraced.
Fight like the warrior you are and do the right thing!
I have high hopes for this next season and the new year we are stepping into.
Blessings and Shalom
Candice 'Candi' Holtzclaw
PS! Stay tuned for next post, it's a peek into how I start my first step into the New Year, after cleaning house.
Ecclesiastes 3
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.