Döstädning = Death Cleaning = Todesputz

 
A couple of months ago my wife started with Döstädning (Death Cleaning = Todesputz). It is a special Swedish system to rid your household of things and after living 33 years in the same house, we have quite a bit to declutter. In November there was a challenge to throw out 1000 things. It had to be 1000 decisions made, not 1000 things. That meant that a draw of music cassettes counted only as one because we had decided to quit bunkering cassettes. We did not make in November but last week Number 1000 was in the rubbish bin. It gave us a very good feeling. Now we want to start anew with another 1000 things in three months.
Our souls also should be mucked out. “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (from the letter from Paul to the Hebrews 12:15 – ESV). How much poison and bitterness is lodging in our soul? Our attics are overflowing with wounds, misunderstanding, and hurts. We hoard them and won’t let them go. The roots have gone deep. It is no wonder then that we have a screw loose. Through God’s grace and with His help we can declutter. It is so pleasant let go of the hurt because someone forgot your birthday a month or 30 years ago. It is liberating to give up our mistakes from when we were 18 years-old. As we have often prayed in the Lord’s Prayer: “and forgive us our trespasses, as we have forgiven those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). It is good to do some “death cleaning” before it is too late.
 
Randall Smelser
Preacher of the Christusgemeinde (Christ Church) Peine-Stederdorf