Cleansing from within and without

I spent my holy week in an unusual way. When I worked in a back-office so many years ago, I always found myself working during the holidays. And when I started with my current job, I got involved with a group of professionals who spend a week of their time by providing free medical and dental (and optical) services to needy churches (plus the community around it) and sharing the love of our Saviour through film showing. This year, we did this for a day. And then after that, I spent two whole days cleaning out ten-years of our lives.

It was not easy. Dust had accumulated. Rodents had eaten certain boxes. My favorite pest, the cockroach, left its trail everywhere. And harder still, was the decision-making. How do you throw away a part of your and your family's history? How do you decide which mementos to throw away and which ones to keep? How do you know when it is time to let go of something that is already past? 

There are things we have to do even if we don't want to. 

As I cleaned out that which is material, something else was being cleansed. I was forced to remember that we need to throw out things that we keep within. Like hurts, grudges, slights, jealousy, pride, envy, anger, and so many more. I mentioned it recently to my mother: there is no use crying over spilt milk. The past is gone. Gone is the past. The important thing to do is to confront the now and do our best to bring God the glory. In all our ways. Always.

I know it will not be easy. I had a hard time cleaning objects but I know that it is more difficult to exorcise the demons that haunt us. I thank God thought that He enables us to be stronger. And to be victorious.

May I always be capable of cleaning out the things from within and without!