The simple answer is this: Every day, each moment, I am writing my story, my life. I am nearing the end of the 77th chapter of my life on earth. In nine days I begin Chapter 78.
This morning I have the thought is that seventy-seven years is a very long time to gather clutter. Clutter comes in many ways, for example, physical stuff that I don't really need. I've done some of this, but thankfully not too much. Even so, I might get around to clearing out some of my personal physical stuff before Chapter 77 ends in 8 days. But I refuse to worry about it if I don't do this. No hurry. There are more important things to attend to, like clutter in my heart and soul. One might think a man of 77 does not have much clutter in his spirit. Ha! Don't I wish. We humans have ingenious ways of blanking out our faults and weaknesses and failures and mistakes, and I sure am not immune to this tendency. Have you ever thought that the physical clutter in our life is a pretty good indication of the clutter in our spirit? This is not absolutely true, but sometimes it is helpful to consider this thought. You see, I have this ongoing desire to be open to all the surprises that life brings, but, darn, sometimes clutter in our heart, mind and soul just will not allow openness to the surprises and opportunities life presents. In my life, the desire to be free of clutter in my soul is a daily and ongoing project. I have discovered that there is no immediate or instantaneous cure for the kind of clutter that blocks greater experiences of joy and love, and peace and harmony. This is something that I work on daily and that I am determined to continue doing in nine days when I begin Chapter 78.
Ramblings on Saturday, May 11th.
- Joseph