Uncluttered Lives

Scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-5; Luke 10:38-41

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian calendar and is one of the special seasons that cause us to focus on spiritual matters. The word Advent means, “coming” or “arrival” and is a time of waiting and preparation. This season is a wonderful time to “un-clutter our lives.” The four weeks prior to Christmas day call us to respond to the words of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, who challenges people of faith of every century “to prepare for the coming of the Lord.”

I discovered a new book for this Advent season, The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Richardson. It’s a brief devotional/reflection book that offers guidance for preparing hearts, homes, and spirits for the celebration of the birth of Christ. In the introduction to her book Richardson writes, “Advent is often the busiest time of the year. And yet, we are called to make time and space to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. What a challenge for us as Christians! This book’s purpose resides in helping us clear away obstructions to God—our worries, distractions, negative habits—so that our hearts and spirits are open to God’s movement during this holy time. No matter how busy we may become, God is waiting to break through our endless tasks and distractions to remind us that we are not alone; indeed, God is present with us in every moment.” In her book, Richardson offers helpful insights to make the most of this season. After all, the purpose of Advent is to help us prepare for a holy encounter.

Too often our lives become cluttered with so many non-essential things that we miss the meaning of the season. There seems to be so much to do and so little time, and our lives become cluttered with events and obligations. We go though the motions of so many rituals and take on many added tasks to satisfy the search for the meaning and joy of Christmas. Our lives become cluttered with mundane tasks and activities with little thought to why we do what we do. This time of preparation becomes a race to get it all done before the special day of Christmas arrives when we hope to discover the mystery, meaning and message, if we think about it at all. If we take our cluttered lives into the observance we will certainly miss the peace and joy that Christmas offers.

So perhaps we should consider what is truly important in this season of preparation. Perhaps we should ask, why do we do all the things we do during this season that urges us to rush to get so much done by December 25th?

If you feel your life is cluttered, I suggest that refocusing how you use your time and energy will help you un-clutter your life and fill it with the “things of the spirit.” Our lives begin to become uncluttered when we reestablish priorities, and take time for reflection and remembrance. To do so will not only add meaning to this season but to every season of life. The most important thing we can do during Advent is to attend to spiritual matters. After all Advent/Christmas is not just about decorations, gift buying and giving, attending parties, and the numerous other activities that fill our calendars. This season really is about preparing once again to claim the message which leads to spiritual well-being.

As a matter of fact, if we think Christmas is about preparing for the observance of one day, then we have missed the point. Christmas is any day love is expressed. It happens when we make spiritual matters important and allow our hearts to become uncluttered with worldly things and expectations, and become filled with the true gifts of Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. When we do, we truly have cause to celebrate. It is then that we find our soul’s greatest desire, address our deepest human longing, and we discover what Christ came to bring into our often cluttered lives.

Last Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, I attended the evening contemporary worship at my home church. Upon entering the chapel, I noticed immediately that the altar table in the center of the room was filled with clutter: a Santa’s hat, Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon, a string of electric tree lights, bells, a Christmas card, colored ornaments, and a small burning candle—all symbols of the season. However the central symbol of the faith – the cross-- was notably missing. During the message, the preacher moved to the table and uncovered the cross which had been hidden from view by all the clutter. She then placed the larger cross in the center of all the clutter. What a powerful moment of truth was highlighted by this simple act! It does take the cross of Christ and its message of God’s love to remove the clutter that often hides the meaning of Christmas.

So if you really want to prepare for Christmas, then make these days of preparation ones that enrich your spiritual life. Don’t be content with the limited secular interpretation of the season, but look for the deeper spiritual meaning. Become more intentional in the daily practice of spiritual disciplines. Offer prayers regularly; look for ways to share the meaning and message of the season with others. Read again the gospel story that tells of God’s amazing love and grace. Un-clutter your heart of worldly desires and fill them with the “things of the spirit.” Fill your heart with the true meaning of Christmas so that all you do will be motivated by Christ-like love. Allow God to break through the clutter to discover and claim the reason for the season. And if you do, not only will your life become more enriched with the true gifts of Christmas, but so will the lives of others whom you touch.