By Nancy Virden (c)2021

A guest is coming tomorrow and will be here for three weeks. Today I went upstairs to where they will be sleeping to make the bed and move junk around. Yes, some of the stuff up there is junk in need of tossing.

With the time crunch pressing on my willpower, junk was shifted from one place to another. It would be nice to think it was only the deadline fueling this procrastination, however, this space has needed organizing for almost three years.

Inside my head is another attic full of wonderful truths, joy, comfort, love, and peace. Not-so-great clutter fills neat boxes shoved into the corners while I pretend there is nothing to confront. Hypocricy, fear, resentment, selfishness… ok … stopping before I embarrass myself. Too late.

Have you seen any of those organizing shows? Decluttering looks difficult and worth it. No one seems to ask the owners one year later how maintenance is going. It is one thing to clear one’s space (such as a mind) and another to work at preventing valueless clutter from piling up again.

How about old thoughts? Since years of therapy, some have never returned for me, for which I thank Jesus. Others pester me still. It is easier to shove those in a box and procrastinate looking at them. After all, I did clean up pretty good, right?

Trouble is, it’s the clutter that destroys the space. If I want wonderful truths, joy, comfort, love, and peace to be the essence of my mind, old stinkin’ thinkin’ needs thrown out. It IS difficult, and also worth it. -COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair.

NOTE: I am not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speak only from personal experiences and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

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