Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10   

If you’ve read any of my writings, you’ll likely be aware that spring is my favorite time of year. Yes, even though my allergies are raging just as the wind often does and the temperature rides a roller coaster and thunderstorms often loom overhead, I love the season of new beginnings. My gardening skills jump into high gear, landscape beds get rearranged and new annuals find their way to flank my doorway.

But planting is not the only desire that awakens in springtime. You guessed it! The spring-cleaning bug hits the neighborhood. Mowers are running, weed eaters trimming, chain saws are removing dead limbs and when the yard looks just the way we’ve envisioned all winter, we turn our labors to the house itself. Windows must be squeaky clean to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Closets are cleaned and clothing you haven’t worn in years is bagged for donation, attics, and basements are rearranged, those unwanted items are set aside, and then comes the biggest task of all…the garage. How do we accumulate so much stuff in the span of a year?

Not all who wander are lost…some are just looking for Garage Sales!

But…and here’s the good part! Garage sales pop up everywhere. This past weekend our town had its city-wide sale and Ken delighted in scouting out likely locations for finding rusty tools. He’s like a bloodhound on a scent. The man has a keen sense of radar regarding tools that just cry out for his experienced touch. And he doesn’t come home empty-handed. I often wonder if he remembers that we are trying to downsize and de-clutter. 

I’m sure that Ken is not the only one who enjoys a good garage sale, so now is the time to attack all those bastions of clutter in your own home and haul those unwanted items over to Aldersgate for the annual church garage sale. Your pre-priced donations will be accepted beginning Monday, May 8 in preparation for the sale on May 13. See the app or website for details regarding hours and any other necessary information. The youth will host the sale and proceeds benefit mission trips, camps, and other youth activities. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to dispose of items no longer needed and pick up a few “new” treasures to fill those empty spaces in your sparkling clean house. That’s my commercial for the day, now back to the business at hand.

As I speak of cleaning out clutter, I’m reminded that anytime is a good time to take stock of the clutter in our lives. Let’s yank out those bad habits that creep in and try to take root. Cast them on the garbage heap where they can do no harm. And then let’s cultivate the good traits we find and become more in touch with the people we were meant to be. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could exit the spring-cleaning process with not only a clean home and yard but also with a clean heart, renewed purpose, and a resolve to care more for each other?

Let me close with a big thank you to all of you who have expressed support for these weekly messages, whether online or in person. Your kind words are much appreciated. I trust God to fill my mind and heart with encouraging words each week and He never disappoints me. Sometimes He makes me really search for them, but I’ve always said, I believe His messages are meant as much for me as for anyone else, so I guess it’s only fair that I have to work for them. We all have a lot to learn. So, dive in with me, and let’s all get closer to where we are meant to be. Let’s get serious about this thing called Spring Cleaning!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,

let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1