Clutter

I met with a beloved colleague of mine recently, chatting in her office about the power of prayer. I took note of her office as I entered and realized that it had a certain Zen quality of simplicity to it. There was no clutter on her desk - minimal artwork on the walls - no potted plants - modest bookshelves but no overflowing library of commentaries and theological books. As we talked, she commented that she reads quite a lot - 45 or 50 books a year, or about one per week. So why the scarcity of books in the office? Surely, she doesn't get them all from the library!
And where are all the projects that she's surely working on?

I think about my own office. It's true that when I moved from the old office into the new one, I changed things a bit, but there are still small gifts given to me by various folks over the years; artwork from a variety of sources; family photos; a boom box and CD collection; potted plants and vases of silk flowers... I frown over the piles of unfinished work on my desk, but take great delight in the wide variety of colors, textures, images and the meanings embedded in so many parts of the room. I have my desk for "working" and I have a space for praying and I have a space for chatting and that helps me focus better. At home I have bookshelves crammed with seminary texts, books recommended by colleagues, things I thought looked fascinating and couldn't resist. But, is it clutter?

On Oprah's show one time, there was a guest who defined two types of clutter: the "I-might-need-this-some-day" clutter and the "this-is-related-to-my-past" clutter. Their conversation focused on one main point - if your life/space/time is filled with things that you might use someday (pull you into the future) or that you can't bear to give up (tie you to the past) then you never fully function in the here and now; never fully enjoy the gifts of the present moment; never really know the power of today. I was surprised at how much sense that simple statement made to me. It's so important to strike a balance between honoring our history, knowing where we come from, understanding our roots and getting a clear vision for the future, finding our way into who we're called to be. That balance place is where we actually live and move and have our being. That balance place is today.

Of course, some of the difference between my office and that of my friend has to do with personality types... All those colors and shapes are distracting for her where they're not for me. Still, around the room there are shades of the past and things that pull me toward "some day" and the reality of today is piled up on my desk. Surrounded by yesterday and looking forward to tomorrow, I try to manage the needs of today.

Jesus said that we should take care, for where our treasure is, that's where our hearts will be. What's your treasure? What's in your clutter? Is you heart still waiting for some day to come, when things will be right or perfect or fixed? Is your heart living in yesterday, when things were clearer or simpler? Do you long for answers, or miss the days when you seemed to have all the answers? You (and I!) might be wise to examine your hearts, minds, souls and surroundings for signs of clutter and commit to letting the clutter go. Keep what inspires you. Keep what defines you. Let go of whatever distracts you from the fullness of life God intends for you.