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Anyone who knows me is familiar with the pride I take in my super-messy oversized van. Typically, I revel in the fact that between forgotten coats, leftover snacks, and countless fermenting juice boxes, I could easily live in this 15-passenger vehicle for at least a week. That's why you can imagine my kids' surprise when we hit the car wash on Ash Wednesday.
The grand event wasn't planned to coincide with the start of Lent -- a 40-day journey in which Christians prepare themselves for Easter by focusing more intently on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I simply had time to kill during my son's piano lesson; a lesson that ran long, so we vacuumed, too.
Driving home in a sparkling clean vehicle left me inspired. I got to thinking about the next six weeks. "Why not knock out spring cleaning now?" I hollered over the ruckus, sharing my bright idea with my seven sons, "That way -- come Easter -- we'll just live at the park!"
I got a lot of blank stares. So I knew I had to make a strong case, especially if I wanted the teens involved.
"It's still cold outside!" I explained, which is true for lots of places in March, but especially our Northeastern climate, "Why not clean the attic now while we're stuck inside anyway?"
Still, my kids were barely listening, so I kept the rest of the conversation internal. I thought about what St. Benedict said in regard to work and prayer, how the two actions inspire one another -- work leads to prayer and prayer leads to work -- that they're "wings of the same dove."
I also pondered the fact that I simply could not remember the last time I mopped my kitchen floor (or the rest of the house for that matter). Suddenly, I knew how to spend tons of time with Jesus this Lent. And by God's grace, long-neglected tasks took on a new light.
Still, I'm a horrible homemaker, so I had more convincing to do.
Spread the work out over 40 days. And keep in mind -- there's an end in sight!
I hit the Dollar Store on the way home to buy cleaning supplies and paper towels. As I filled my cart, I reflected on the fact that I could probably clean out the fridge, wash windows, and sort closets with more of a sacrificial spirit (something that doesn't come naturally to me) if such tasks were meted out in tiny portions over the next six weeks and if I knew I could be finished by Easter.
For these reasons I've tackled spring cleaning hard this year, but not too hard. Something about knowing I only have to do one or two extra chores per day has thankfully prevented burnout. So far, I've dusted ceiling fans, sorted shoes and bleached a couple of showers all while humming Psalm 51: "Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." I've gotten a little help from the kids, and I'm finding the project so much more rewarding than many Lenten activities we've done together in the past.
Because spring cleaning offered to God in love is a prayer you can see. And smell -- especially if you use lemon-scented cleaner! As darkened surfaces polish up, I get a visible reminder of the Holy Spirit's action in our lives: "Wash me and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7) Also, I get to pretend I'm a fancy lady who lives in a clean house for a while, and that's pretty neat, too.
