Mother Theresa was known to have said that “a clean heart can see God, can speak to God, and can see the love of God in others.”
I’m wondering what that means as Lent approaches and we hear that familiar call for mercy and grace that comes with the desire of a clean heart. In this ancient song, it’s a request that is made of God. God creates something with spit and polish, I suppose. God spruces things up in those inner chambers so that love can shine.
Maybe God is rolling up her sleeves and committing to an afternoon of scrubbing and tidying. Maybe that’s what happens as Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in just a few weeks. We mark ourselves with ashes not only to remember that we are mere dust, but that we also believe there’s something that can be fixed with some divine Lysol and elbow grease. Do we really believe this?
Is this something we still need to do? Do we need to remember that we come from dust of the ground? Might it be better to adhere glitter to our faces to remember such love? What does it mean to have clean hearts anyway?
These are big questions and still more questions posed by the poet in the above poem. We dare to believe that God is at work. God is making something all the time, and it will be magnificent. We struggle to find our part in that grand art project. We are not sure what to do and too often that means we don’t do anything while we wait for God.
This month, I invite you to commit to one cleaning project to look for God. These monthly invitations usually offer several entry points to find your own practice but this month there is only one.
I hope and pray you surprised by what emerges from this experience of cleaning alongside God. As you are inspired to do so, please share in the comments below your experience of embracing this wee bit of elbow grease.
As you enter into this February practice, here are some questions for reflection and prayer.
How is cleaning like love?
What, if anything, does your body return to in this act of cleaning?
What do you most resist in cleaning?
What does “a clean heart” mean to you?
You might find added inspiration in this reflection on Psalm 51 and a God who does laundry. Or if this whole thing feels tenuous at best, you might find Clean Your House and Your Mind Will Follow to be helpful. Or even better, read this essay All I Really Needed to Know I Learned By Cleaning Up My Daughter’s Poop.
My cleaning efforts rarely extend to my bookshelf which seems to only grow more cluttered with goodness. Spirituality and Practice released their Best Spiritual Books of 2023 last week and I’ve already added 3 more books to my cart. If you’re looking for something to engage your spirit, you might find a great read on this list.
If you are interested in spiritual direction and are interested in a first conversation with me, please reach out or go ahead and book an appointment here. I am currently welcoming new directees and would be delighted to explore the holy threads of this life with you.