“But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.”
(1 Corinthians 14:40)
Organizing my clutter provides a relief. I can find things, pay my bills on time, be in my choice of places, and just relax knowing that all of the material-based chaos has been cleared out of my space or has been orderly arranged by my design. Hearing the terms sort, purge, throw out, separate, and sacrifice, gives me chills. I prefer to think of it as ‘un-complicating’ my life, removing visual distractions, and creating in my space a feeling of warmth, sense of style, and a calmed soul. Organizing also provides me with a sense of routine. If it’s Tuesday, it’s time to do laundry. During the second week of each month, it’s time to file my invoices, receipts and car repair papers. If it’s April, it’s time to gather my documents and have someone prepare my tax returns. (The day after filing, I mark on my kitchen calendar the date my refund should be electronically transferred into my bank account.) Life is good when you’re organized.
God is orderly. In Genesis, “on day one, God created light and separated it from the dark. Day two was the formation of the earth’s atmosphere, water, and sky. On day three He created land (Earth), vegetation and ocean. The sun shined from the sky on day four and the moon and stars appeared at night. He brought all sea life and birds into existence on day five. All land animals, man and woman were created on day six. And finally, on day seven he rested” (Genesis 1-2:4). God organized the world by His design.
I know it can be daunting to arrange everything according to a plan. I consider myself spontaneous. What I find, however, is that if I 
want more time to be free today, then, I should have planned better yesterday or last month. So, I think of it not as a program but a benefit to my lifestyle. I work, I play, I exercise, I organize, and I rest.
Over the years I have learned some key things:
There is no need to display all your collected items or artwork at once.- Old clothes aren’t all considered vintage – some actually do go out of style!
- Others are visually overwhelmed, if not repulsed, by the amount of things accumulated in small spaces. This discomfort may create concern that the accumulated stuff may even be germ laden.
- Kids become hyper when their surroundings are too cluttered or too busy.
- Stumbling over junk leads to injuries and the healthcare costs become expensive really quickly.
I made a decision not to avoid or delay getting organized. God brought order into existence. The earth was “without form,” He spoke and it became paradise. I have faced the fact that clutter can find its way into my life, but by design I nibble daily, weekly, and monthly at office, household, car cleaning, and maintenance matters rather than being deluged by an onslaught of guilt or external pressures.
I do have a kink in my plans from time to time, especially when parting with sentimental items. Gifts from relatives or things obtained during a time of painful closure represent authentic feelings of joy and pain, so now I shine or dust the items for exactly one year. After that period I examine my emotions, inspect the object and decide if I should keep it, take a picture of it, or just hold it in my memories. Either way, I am reminded that the sentimental objects were given to me by someone who wanted me to be healthy, happy, and whole.
