In my world, if you do not do it yourself, it does not get done.
A reflection by Danny N. Schweers for September 21, 2025.
For years, I let my books and other things pile up higgledy-piggledy in what my wife and I call our reading room. I lived with the clutter. I ignored the piles on the floor. I hated that the room was a dumping ground but it was easier to live with the clutter than challenge it.
In addition to being lazy, in addition to having more important things to do, I could not get started because cleaning up and rearranging is something my mom would tell me to do. A grown man does not have to listen to his mom, does he? He is free to live in chaos!
Perhaps I was hoping my wife would do the work. No? No. The work was mine to do.
Suddenly, my pent up annoyance changed to action. I cannot say what changed with me but, after two days of work, the deed was done. Now everything is tidy. There are fewer things in the room and those things still in the room have places of their own. Nothing is stacked on the floor or on the chairs or center table. I am no longer walking around things. The room is neat and attractive! There is a comfortable place for me to sit and, if you want to visit, one for you. I hope it stays that way!
I shared my amazing accomplishment with friends.
They said, “I don’t know where to begin. There are piles and stacks everywhere. I am struggling. It’s embarrassing. I am overwhelmed.” They were asking me — ME! — to help them deal with their clutter. Ha!
A few said they had a room like mine. I told them I would be happy to rearrange their rooms but that I charge $45/hour and I work slowly. None replied.
I advised others to become saints, to respect and even honor each thing, however commonplace, not just in its acquisition and possession but especially in its disposal. I said, “Respect Your Rubbish.” I said, “Honor Your Trash”. I said, “Make taking out the trash a ritual of thanksgiving — then tip the trash truck drivers $20 each!”
Let me be serious about clutter for a moment. Let me point you to a reflection I wrote in 2022 about The Ten Thousand Things. Click here to find it on this website. Or type “Ten Thousand Things” into the search box in the header of this page.
There is only one thing to concern ourselves with — to love God and neighbor.
The 10,000 things can be dealt with if our first concern is to love God and neighbor; in other words, to seek the kingdom of God; in other words, to listen to the Holy Spirit.
Lao Tse, in his Tao Te Ching, said something similar 2,600 years ago. He said the one thing to be mindful of is the Tao, which is not a thing at all. I think of the Tao as being like the Holy Spirit. The Tao and the Holy Spirit have a lot in common, especially that they are so difficult to discern and do not obey commands.
I could write many, many words about my deep thoughts on this subject, perhaps 10,000, but not here. Buy my book on the subject when it comes out. The working title is “Things Left Undone”. First I have to write it!
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Reflection 2025-11 by Danny N. Schweers. Danny chairs SsAM’s Communication Committee. He is an active photographer and writer. Click here to visit his website and make a comment.
