Spring Cleaning

Despite the fact that there are three inches of snow on the ground outside my Chicago area townhome, the calendar says that spring has arrived. And with the spring come thoughts of spring cleaning, Easter, and for me a renewed motivation to be more disciplined. Like the rush of inspiration that hits us at the beginning of the new year, spring gives us a hope of new beginnings and a fresh start.

If I had stuck to The Happiness Project regime of tackling one life change a month instead of making dozens of resolutions at the beginning of a new year, (see previous post on The Happiness Project) by now, all my closets would be cleaned, I would have added more zip to my marriage, and my work would be more streamlined. But I didn’t. In all honesty, I fell off of The Happiness Project wagon after closet number two.

My failure is not Gretchen Rubin’s fault. It is mine. Gretchen, by the way, is the author of The Happiness Project, a simply fabulous book, that one day I hope I will be able to fully embrace.

But until then, I am left with the need to spring clean my home, my weight, and my spiritual life.

Spring cleaning my home isn’t that daunting. All I need is one good Saturday with weather warm enough that I can open all the windows, and I’m good.

My spiritual disciplines can always use a fresh, spring clean approach, but quite honestly, my prayer and Bible reading habits are pretty strong. So while I recognize that one can never pray too much, or be broken too deeply, I feel that I am on a good path for growth in this area.

But spring cleaning my eating habits is overwhelming.

I have been heavy most of my life, and have literally lost and gained 100+ pounds over the last four decades of my life. I am neither proud nor ashamed of this fact.

There was a time, when I was deeply ashamed of my weight and appearance. But with God’s help, and a very loving and accepting family, I have realized that my excess weight is something that doesn’t define me as a person. Yes, it is a health concern, and quite frankly a spiritual discipline concern, but being fat doesn’t preclude me from being used in the kingdom of God. A normal weight is rather an area of growth that I hope to achieve one day.

This goal, this hope of maintaining a normal weight is always at the top of my spring cleaning list, my New Year’s list, my beginning-of-the-week list, my start-of-the-day-list…you get the idea.

In 2010, when I first started blogging, I wrote a series called Wednesday Weigh-In. The goal was to be accountable to my readers, and write honestly and transparently about my weight loss struggles. And it worked, as long as I did. But after having a few setbacks, I quit writing about it, and quit becoming accountable.

It’s funny isn’t it? Accountability sounds great when we are feeling strong and like we can conquer anything. But when we fail, accountability seems like an unfair taskmaster than nobody in their right mind would choose to submit to.

My pastor, Robert Boettcher, teaches a lot about the importance of accountability. And interestingly enough, just last week, he taught the church leaders about the power of self-discipline coupled with accountability.

“It isn’t the four-hour blowout prayer that changes you, it’s the day-to-day, week-in-week-out prayer that does… If you want true change, find someone who is where you want to be and make yourself accountable to them” -Pastor Robert Boettcher, Bartlett United Pentecostal Church

So for me, on this spring cleaning day, I am thinking about where I need to grow and change and what altars of accountability I need to strap myself to.

My shortcomings are great, but my God is greater. One verse that I cling to is Jeremiah 32:27:

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

What about you? Are there areas of spring cleaning you need in your life? Let’s talk about it. Send this post to a trusted friend and talk with them about it too and let me know how it goes.