It’s spring here in Chicago*. Spring means spring cleaning. The leaves that refused to drop before the snows (which were many many) are cleaned up. The garden tractor I cracked up last summer is fixed and now has a heavy duty guard on the front. The snow blower is going back to the shed and I don’t even have to change the oil it was used so little due to my surgery (but the driveway took a beating with the 6 inches of ice that covered it most Jan/Feb/March). Open the doors and get some fresh air blowing through the house! Yeah!!!

It’s also time to do a soul cleaning. Not that we need spring for this cleaning, but I thought it was a good segue. I ask, what are our souls to look like? We have some pretty clean direction we’ve been given.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Ephesians 4:31-32 New Living Translation (NLT)
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you

Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

This is how we win the war against evil. This is how we bring a glimpse of heaven to earth. This is how we change our enemies and strangers into beloved friends. This is how we stop the insanity that surrounds us. This is the way forward.

My soul needs a thorough spring cleaning. Frequently.

*(well, kinda spring like we get in Chicago – last weekend we had 50+ degrees and then snow flakes on the same day. Come to think of it, we have to ton of snowflakes in Chicago, but that’s a different kind of snowflake and a different conversation that my kids tell me has no place in a Christ centered blog.)