"what comes out of the man/woman"

the foyer
the entry point...
the first thing to be seen as you enter our home
the area that is kept presentable...

I want to move beyond just being 'presentable'
and work on our home so that it is 'clean'
and to allow the work and purging process of spring cleaning
to be a reflection what is going on spiritually as well

Being snowed in...
cleaning...
{husband is having dinner for his finance students tonight and tomorrow...}
has caused me to think about Lent...
again, still...
it's been ever since New Year's really...
but now it's only a week away

What?!! am I to do?! or not do?!?

Wednesday's daily reading about sin coming from within
and defiling has been echoing around in my spirit

"What comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."
                                                  Mark 7:23

Since the retreat a couple weeks ago
I've been thinking about 'sin'
trying to see my true self

I tend to see myself
as this beloved creature
"God loves me"
'I am loved'

That has been good and healing

But the other part is ...
"and He gave His only son to die for my sins"

I don't tend to think of the sins so often

But as I've been cleaning
and see all that really needs to be done...
the deep cleaning
and as Lent approaches
I'm beginning to think about sin

how all these messes, areas, drawers, closets, rooms get piled up!?!?

and need to be addressed

I know there are areas in my life
in my heart
that need to be addressed

I am not looking straight on
and naming all those areas just yet!?!?

(although I have been confronted with a few of my 'sins' quite recently...
I am sorry to say)

I will allow the Holy Spirit to dig more thoroughly into that work
as we move into my most favorite liturgical season...
'Lent' preparation for Easter...Spring....new life

But I am seeing...
the dust bunnies and piles that I have been willing
to just step over and around and live with these last few months...

and that is a beginning...the entry point