HoHum:
Seems like I am the one taking out the trash. While growing up, told to take out the trash. After taking out the dog, the next thing I do is take out the trash. Thankful for Alex who helps me to take out the trash on a weekly basis.
WBTU:
Probably have seen the TV program, “Hoarders” Some of them never throw anything away. These people who have tried to hold on to everything- both “treasures” and “trash”- and things have gotten significantly out of control. Their houses are jam packed with stuff. Something tucked away everywhere until have cramped paths through the house. It is disturbing to watch as the television camera weaves through towering stacks of old newspapers and magazines, empty boxes, mismatched furniture, broken appliances, damaged objects, rotting food (that one stopped me from watching anymore) and much more. Sadly, because of all of this clutter, these homeowners often do not have access to the things that would add value to their lives because they are blocked by things they do not need and contribute little, or worse, negatively impact their lives. This desire to hang onto everything makes their homes unsafe and virtually uninhabitable. Then, after the commercial break, we watch as the team of psychologists, professional organizers, concerned family members, and city inspectors arrive to assess the situation and intervene in this person’s life. The first words of advice- from everyone, on every episode- are always the same, “Let’s start by taking out the trash!” Great advice for all of us. Certainly, we see this in action when a medic begins treating a physical injury by cleaning the foreign matter out of a wound to prevent infection. This same principle can also apply to clearing out the mental and emotional “debris” that may interfere with the quality of our lives and our need for healing and wholeness.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23, NIV. King James says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” or as the New Living Translation says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” One of the themes in the Bible for people of faith is the importance of protecting ourselves from negative influences around us that may prove to be toxic. We are not to “conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” Romans 12:2. We are to do what we can to protect the essence of our beings from toxicity. Newer version of NIV says in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Life has a way of accumulating trash in our souls. It all piles up- trash affects us. Today's jealousy is tomorrow's temper tantrum. Today's bigotry is tomorrow's hate crime. Today's anger is tomorrow's abuse. Today's lust is tomorrow's adultery. Today's greed is tomorrow's embezzlement. Today's guilt is tomorrow's fear. Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions. Many times the first thing we need to do is to take out the trash.
Thesis: What trash do we need to take out?
For instances:
1. Let Go of the Anger
Need to let go of the anger we have toward others- not for their sakes, but for the sake of our own health and well being. “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19, 20, NIV. Our anger can make us physically sick. According to wellness author Debbie Strong, anger can literally ruin one’s health. She points out that anger- especially outbursts- increases the risk to the heart, ups the risk of a stroke, weakens the immune system, makes anxiety worse, and is linked to depression. “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”” Mark 11:25, NIV. For our own sake, we must release our feelings of anger and make every effort to forgive those who have offended us. In a recent article in Psychology Today, Dr. Abigail Brenner outlines 5 benefits of forgiving others: 1) When we forgive someone, we forgive ourselves. 2) Forgiving gets us out of a victim’s mindset 3) Forgiveness frees us 4) Forgiveness helps our health 5) Forgiveness helps us to move forward on our spiritual path. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14, 15, NIV. The greatest value of maintaining forgiveness is not for the offender, but for those offended. Holding onto offenses is like those offended drinking poison and expecting the offender to drop dead. Getting angry and staying angry can have a serious side effect. It’s called bitterness, and it can do terrible things to the human body and soul. From Barbara Brown Taylor- Once on a trip to Atlanta I stopped at a gift shop to buy a couple of wedding presents, some nice brass picture frames, which I asked the clerk to wrap. “Well, what is the occasion?” the clerk snarled. “Are you going to tell me or am I supposed to guess?” I looked at her for the first time and I saw a woman whose brow was all bunched up over two hard, cold eyes. Her mouth turned down at the sides like she had just tasted something rancid, and she had both her hands planted on the glass counter, learning against it with such malice that I thought she might push it over on me if I irritated her any more. Generally speaking, i get mad when someone comes at me like that, but this time I just got scared because I could see what her anger had done to her, and I wanted to get away from it before it did something similar to me.”
2. Put away the fear
Although fear can be an instinctive and natural response to danger, we cannot allow ourselves to be dominated by our fear. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7, NIV. Fear, like anger, can make us physically sick. We see this in the research on the impact of chronic fear conducted at the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota: “Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility. It can lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.” Norman Vincent Peale- When I was a young reporter on the old Detroit Journal, my editor, Grove Patterson took an interest in me. He was a man of perceptive insights. One day, he called me into his office. “Norman,” he said, “you’ve got a lot of fear and anxiety. You must get rid of it. What is there to be afraid of? Why should anyone go through life like a scared rabbit? The good Lord has told us that He will help us and be with us.” I shall always remember that conversation. “Look son,” he continued, “I’m going to give you a little advice. The only one in this world to fear is God, and that doesn’t mean to be afraid of him. It means to esteem Him. There is nothing else to be afraid of, so never be afraid of anything or anyone.” “But Mr. Patterson,” I said, “how can anyone possibly go through life afraid of nothing or no one?” He leveled a long finger at me. “Listen,” he said, “I’ll tell you how: ‘Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid...for the Lord thy God is with you whithersoever you go (Joshua 1:9). Just hang onto that promise,” he added, “and don’t forget that it’s made by Someone who never let anybody down.”
3. Set aside the stress
Stress is our body’s reaction to pressure from a situation or event. Stress produces adrenaline. Not all stress is bad. It can make us more aware of things around us and keep us more focused. In some cases stress can give us strength and help us get more done. There is a healthy level of stress, but living with unmanaged chronic stress- when the body remains in the “fight or flight” mode for long periods- can be harmful to us. According to the National Cancer Institute, stress can be a “triggering” or “aggravating factor” for many diseases and pathological conditions. “Distress has become increasingly recognized as a factor that can reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. There is even some evidence that extreme distress is associated with poorer clinical outcomes.” Fortunately, their research also provides some hopeful news, “Emotional and social support can help patients learn to cope with psychological stress. Such support can reduce levels of depression, anxiety and disease- and treatment related symptoms among patients.” “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27, NIV. Another reason stress must be set aside is because it can rob us of the healthy sleep our bodies need. Saundra Dalton Smith MD has identified 7 types of rest lacking in the lives of those she has studied in her clinical practice and research. 1) Physical rest 2) Mental rest 3) Spiritual rest 4) Emotional rest 5) Sensory rest 6) Social rest 7) Creative rest. A deficiency in any one or any combination of these types of rest may result in unfavorable effects on our health, happiness, relationship, creativity and productivity.“ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, NIV.
So what?
There is a time honored tradition in many households that we call “spring cleaning”- a designated time when the cobwebs are swept away, floors are scrubbed, windows are washed, furniture polished, and fresh linens are put on the beds. There are times when our souls benefit from an intense and intentional “top to bottom” cleansing. As we have learned from the “hoarder” shows, a great place to start this process is by “taking out the trash.” Need to identify and expel anything for our lives that may compromise our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being. This means that these top 3 need to go- anger, fear and stress! Of course, as with any major cleaning project, we will need to keep in mind that at times things may get messier before they get better. Also, things may get harder before they get easier. Take comfort knowing that from this chaos will come beauty. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18, NIV.
