A Clean Garage and a Clean Heart

I cleaned out the garage today. All the other tasks for a typical Saturday were done and I was in the mood for cleaning the garage. It has been on my mind for several weeks now, reminders from my childhood when my dad implored me to be sure to put everything away after I use it. I really do try to do that but I am so busy after all, leaving something on the workbench or a shelf for a week or two can’t be all bad. And I’m sure I won’t lose whatever it is I sit there.

So with a determination I set forth on my task. My wife reminded me to be sure to sweep the garage out good because we are tracking all that junk in on her clean floors. I think she has forgotten we have a teenage son who often brings four other teenage boys to the house, and a daughter who is in and out. Not to mention our 112 pound yellow lab who thinks (let me correct that—who is) part of the family and never wipes his feet (I mean paws) when he comes in, even though the rug at the door clearly says to do so.

Now to be honest the garage is not in that much disarray. Extension cords needed to be put away; tool chests needed to be arranged and cleared off; trash—most certainly left by those teenage boys who are in and out—put away; and recycling boxed up and hauled away, even though our dog relishes in carrying every single bit of it out to the yard as if it were his own special play thing.

Within a couple of hours the garage was neat and clean—not sparkling because I don’t have the epoxyed floor or the nice walls, but clean nonetheless. Of course as we came in this evening I found another one of those cups from a fast food restaurant that I’m sure one of those teenage boys had left again after I had cleaned the garage!! No, wait, that’s right, the teenage boys haven’t been here all day. Oh wait, it was my cup from where we had gotten something to eat earlier this evening. Seems my memory is not what it used to be. Anyway the garage is clean.

Now it's time to let God work on the stuff that's in my heart that needs to be dusted off and cleaned. I am reminded of what the Psalmist writes, “Create in me clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10 KJV)

I think I'm off to a good start!