I like cleaning out the garage. I’m not really sure why, because cleaning, in general, doesn’t top my list of favorite things to do. But, if I’m in the mood, I can clean things to within an inch of their life! I’m sure it has been an annoyance for my lovely spouse at times.  Not the cleaning, but the intervals between my moods that lend themselves to cleaning properly. I have a couple areas that tend to get messy, and then stay messy for a bit, before I eventually clean up my mess.  Places like the top of my dresser…and the garage of course. 

So much of what’s in the garage is utilitarian. It’s stuff we use, a lot of tools, bicycles, yard implements, other tools, spare bits of wood, recreational items, and a few more tools. Every time I clean the garage, I get rid of things we aren’t using or won’t use, although I do have a hard time letting go of things that might come in handy in the future. I’m not a hoarder by a long shot, but if I have spare screws, nuts, anchors, two by fours, certain kinds of foam, wires, cables, or disassembled pieces of something that can be repurposed, I organize them and tuck them away.  

I have totes for plumbing, electrical, painting, automotive, and general hardware. Those totes have saved numerous trips to the hardware store, because I already had what I needed. Unless I have a special project that requires a lot of one particular kind of screw, for example, I can find something to fit the repair I’m making. Taken all together, there’s a lot of stuff in our garage at the Rectory, which makes it hard to keep it organized. Things don’t always get put back in their place, and things pile up here and there, and every few months I have to reorganize it and put it all back where it belongs. I forgot to mention that we also park a car in there. I gave up trying to park them both inside a while back. I can do it, physically, but I can’t walk around very well if I do. Donna’s car goes in, but mine lives in the driveway.  

One of the bonuses of what tends to be quarterly cleaning, is that I do remember what I have, and generally where it is so that I can find what I need most of the time. My ability to quickly find what I need is directly proportional to how recently I’ve cleaned and reorganized, of course. Perhaps the most rewarding part of cleaning the garage is the sense of cleanliness and neatness that follows my garage days (it usually takes a day to get it all where I want it). It’s amazing how much detritus gets dragged or blown into the garage over time, from people and cars going in and out. There’s just something about a clean garage floor that feels very rewarding.  

I find that my soul is a bit like my garage. I keep a lot of stuff in there, and not always organized.  There’s a sense of sloppiness now and then. Like detritus that builds up over time from inattention. Life is in such a hurry that I don’t always process feelings or events in such a way that I can properly address things and get them stored away properly. Coming and going so quickly leads to piles here and there amid the swirls of leaves and dust. 

Now, I do keep the proverbial car in there, even despite my lack of attention. I’ve always got “the love of Jesus in my heart”. It’s helpful that I can say that, because ultimately, it’s what keeps me going. I can fit the other stuff in around Jesus, and it may be a mess, but Jesus keeps me from getting caught under a pile that might threaten to collapse on me and pin me against the door. In truth, Jesus isn’t just the car in my soul garage, but also the shelving, the lighting, the trash can, and the power supply all rolled into one. Even so, I periodically find that I need to get in there and get to work cleaning and organizing.  

Some things in my life need to be put on the shelf, some need to be discarded, some need to be hosed off and cleaned, and others simply need to be brought back to mind so I don’t forget about them. My faith is how I go about this, and the grace of our Lord is what makes it all possible. My spiritual life will ebb and flow from day to day, and every once in a while, I find myself having a “come to Jesus” moment with myself (as we used to refer to hard conversations in a previous career). It seems to be on a similar cycle as my worldly garage. The interval for stepping back and spending a day getting in touch with myself and with God and getting things reorganized is not too far off from my cleaning days. In fact, one of the things I realized on sabbatical is that I need to increase the frequency of those check-ins. I need a better pattern of Sabbath and a regular practice of spiritual retreat.  

My life is full, which is a blessing and a challenge. There’s not always the time to keep it in balance. I’m sure I’m the only one who has such challenges, but I thought I’d share just in case.  I’m going to set aside a day coming up soon and get things organized a bit better through prayer and listening. It hasn’t been long since sabbatical, just long enough to start some new piles.

Tom+  

PS – Don’t laugh about Jesus’ comparison to a car – it’s biblical.  Jesus was a car guy.  Scripture tells us that he was in one “accord” with his disciples, after all.  

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  

Photo credits: “Very Messy Garage” and “Organized Suburban Garage” used via license agreement with dreamstime.com.