My husband is waiting for the day when my preferred hobby will be a
creative,
voracious,
unquenchable
desire to….
clean.
I relate well to Kobayashi Issa’s Haiku:
Don’t worry, spiders,
I keep house
casually.
Cobwebs, dust and grime are never-ending in a home.
But a soul should be cleaned out regularly, too.
I dislike the clutter that comes from misunderstandings.
I’d love to sweep up all my unresolved problems.
And, sometimes I have to mop up messes when I make them with my tongue, attitude or actions.
Spring house cleaning is important in its own way, but a good inner-self cleaning is even more important.
I think it’s important to refresh my brain and soul.
Maybe springtime is a great time to do it.
So, I refresh my brain….
I read the Bible. The Bible has a lot to say about interpersonal relationships, giving, loving others and self talk. The heroes and villains inside its pages were REAL PEOPLE. They were moody, proud, and discouraged sometimes. I read and learn how they overcame dysfunctional families and personal struggles, and accomplished great things.
I read other helpful books.
It helps a person move from inchoate status to someone-who-is-starting-to-get-it.
I launder my soul, and I…
…forgive people who have offended me. They may not have earned the gift of my forgiveness, but I am giving the gift to myself.
Sometimes, I walk around oblivious to the fact that I have offended people.
Perhaps I am offending you now, without knowing it.
Or, perhaps I didn’t smile at someone yesterday and they are holding it against me.
But, there are times when I have hurt someone and I know it.
I don’t naturally want to ask for forgiveness, because…after all…they were wrong, too.
But, I WIN by being the first one to make it right–even if my part was only 1.3 % or 49.99%.
I must ask forgiveness for the mistakes I own.
Spring cleaning isn’t always fun.
It can be messy.
But you feel amazing when it’s all over.
Haiku poem taken from: The Essential Haiku. ed. Robert Hass. New York: HarperCollins, 1944.
Photo Credit:Aaron Burden
