A Norvell Note
Vol. 21 No. 42 | October 21, 2019
Getting rid of clutter has long been an objective of mine. At least once a week I feel the compulsion to clear my desk and car of clutter. Oddly enough, this topic has been trending on social media and in personal conversations recently and has set off alarms. (Minimalist)
Keeping our physical space simple and uncluttered is a constant challenge, but keeping our minds uncluttered is an even greater challenge. For example, I’ve switched over to my mailbox, text messages, and calendar multiple times since I started this paragraph.
But mental clutter doesn’t always translate into negative or unhealthy stuff. Some of it is just stuff. But it will still distract you from what you are trying to do. So, to keep my mind focus, when I’m writing in my prayer journal, I often pause and take several deep breaths to regain my focus and process what I am thinking and feeling. And I often pray, “Lord, clear my head of all the noise that is getting in the way of me hearing Your voice.”
Jesus was a master of simplifying things. When the law keepers quizzed Him on the most important commandment, He condensed them all into one. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
As the disciples struggled to understand His teachings and the essentials of being a follower, He simply said: “Love one another. This is how people will recognize you and belonging to me.” (John 13)
When Peter compared his actions with another disciple, Jesus simply said, “You must follow me.” (John 21)
Paul (an apostle of Christ) did a similar thing when he said:
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” (1 Corinthians 15)
We live in busy, noisy, complicated world. If we do not take intentional action to declutter our lives and minds, we will become overwhelmed, overcommitted, and unprepared to live the life God wants us to live.
Some of the wisest counsel on this matter comes again from the pen of Paul:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”(Roman 12)
No one can unclutter your mind for you. No one else can prioritize or set boundaries limits on what you do, what you think, and or how you think. Renewing your mind may be a daily thing, or it may be something you have to do several times a day. But it is well worth the time, and you will notice how much more of it you have.
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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved