Deep Cleaning

In Spokane, the fire came right up to our neighborhood. Many families lost their homes. One family had tremendous damage due to smoke and they are displaced. They have three daughters so we decided to allow this family to rent our home as Shann and I are now empty-nesters.

I cleaned parts of my home that I have never cleaned since I’ve owned it. It was shocking to get into some of the crevices that I’ve never really noticed before. I consider this in the housekeeping of my own heart as a dwelling place for God. I am sure there are rooms that I lock up and pretend are no longer there. Rooms of bitterness, rooms of self- or child adulation, rooms of suspicion, rooms that need total cleansing and surrender.

I have things in my life that I don’t really recognize as unclean. How strange when blindness comes over us and we live ignorant to the ways we deceive ourselves— or we never noticed something that was crucial to notice.

A room in the house can be overlooked time and time again if I do not look at it from the lens of someone else critiquing or judging that room.

I love this image of a total heart search. What a joy to invite the Holy Spirit to come and seek and evaluate the rooms of my heart— the sight of God’s insight.

There is no joy in harboring these ugly rooms. There is no goodness or discernment pretending something is clean when it is not. Any unresolved bitterness, hurt, sin hold nothing for me. On the contrary, there is tremendous joy in allowing the Spirit of God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. This is the joy of love. This is the joy of God.

Here are some contemplative questions to invite God to help us in our lives.

When did I feel furthest from God today?
What drew me out of this close connection? What drew me closest to God today and led me to this Holy unity?
When did I feel furthest from my beloved others? What enticed me out of this loving union?
What drew me closest to my beloved others? What led me to this loving unity?

There is delight and overwhelming awe when there is complete unity in the heart and mind with God and the beloved community!

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part, You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken, rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take the Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” - Psalm 51:6-12