De-clutter the closets of our souls

Happy New Year! Have you begun to put the decorations way, toss out the old, clean out the closets and straighten out the shelves? This is the time of year when many of us begin to de-clutter – only to find our closets re-cluttered by late spring. I fear the same happens with our inner de-cluttering and re-focusing.

What if this year was different? What if this year we chose to live in simplicity? Could this new Land of Less actually give us more? More freedom, more generosity, more compassion – fruits of a more simple way of life may just be possible, with different choices. And, perhaps, as the simple life re-organizes our homes, our spiritual and emotional life might just follow. It all starts with intention.

Simplicity is not about deprivation, denial or embracing frugality. It is not about suffering or living away from the world in faux humility. When we live simply, we choose another path, a path of taking delight, joy and wonder in the ordinary and in the gentle delicacies of our lives. We gain a new level of spiritual intimacy.

Perhaps, instead of the clutter of “things” overwhelming us, we will discover the grace of dance, the joy of music or the soulful words of a poet. Perhaps our inner contentment will be filled by the ethereal rather than the rabid hunger for more as instigated by our “buying power.”

Perhaps we will open up to the sensitivity of others or the majesty of the natural world by which we are surrounded. Of course, I write this after staring at my unwieldy yet happy shoe collection having considered my own struggles with earthly attachment. (Yes, have a laugh at my expense – I certainly did!)

If we could just relax our desire to consume, to grasp, to cling, to reach out with greedy hands for all that glitters, our new year might be rich with the overflowing of treasures yet to be imagined, of blossoming friendships, of creativity and of a deepening awareness of the spirit of Presence in our lives. Our homes, our forests, our waters and our planet Earth might just give more as we learn to live with less. Stuff.

Happy de-cluttering! Welcome to the more simple life! Now, about those shoes …

The Reverend Dr. Deborah Darlington is a seminary trained and ordained Interfaith Minister serving all peoples in their spiritual journeys with coaching, speaking and officiating sacred celebrations. She can be reached at GraceMatters@TheSpaceForGrace.com.