Cleaning the Temple

by Angie Ledbetter

I admit that I'm not a very good housekeeper. I clean other people's homes professionally and beautifully, but my own is full of messy stacks and unfinished chores. It's usually in need of a good going over, much to the constant embarrassment of my spouse. Why is it that I can help someone else with the process, but don't take my own advice very well? But more importantly, can I use this situation as a metaphor to help understand my interior life?

In Need of a Spiritual Spring Cleaning

One of the hardest things for me to do as a Christian and role model to my children is to totally come clean with myself about my sinfulness. It's not that I think that I don't have faults and failings. I'm simply afraid that I'll see way too many.

To help overcome this challenge to my faith walk, I've started spring cleaning my soul each year between Christmas and Easter. The cobwebs, dust, waxy buildup, and corners of neglect aren't pleasant; but once I detect them and clean them up, I have a great feeling of accomplishment. It's as though I have a new spiritual lease on life.

I need this spiritual spring cleaning as much as my home needs a physical spring cleaning. Only this type of cleaning is much more self-nurturing.

Cleaning Manual

The cleaning instructions I use most often is one of my favorite Psalms. Of the 150 songs or hymns included in this book of the Bible, Psalm 51 is the one that makes me want to pull myself up, dust myself off, and get going in the right direction again.

Like all of the Psalms, it teaches me to worship, praise, and thank God for my life -- grimy areas and all. Maybe it speaks to me so powerfully because it's also known as the Sinner's Guide.

Psalm 51 is the story of David's conscience coming awake. He is nearly overcome by the guilt of his actions, but after a purging session, David becomes a new person. A soldier and monarch with despotic ruling power, David was just doing his job as he saw fit.

Being passionate and driven in the things I believe I must accomplish, I can be David-esque unless I make a good self-examination frequently. That is one of the reasons that Psalm 51 is such a good interior spring cleaning manual for me. It provides a wonderful tool that I can use to examine my conscience and begin moving on in a more positive direction.

The Six C's

The Six C Rules that David used in this psalm are very helpful in my dusting, moping and vacuuming. The Six C's are as follows:

1. Crime -- acknowledge the sins I've committed (identify the mess)
2. Contrition -- express sorrow for those sins (admit that the mess needs cleaning)
3. Confession -- take full responsibility for my actions (own up to the messes I've made)
4. Cleansing -- make amends to the people or community I've hurt and reconcile myself with the Lord (get rid of the mess)
5. Conversion -- forgiving myself and changing my heart (make a plan to keep things tidy)
6. Conclusion -- continuing on with new resolve (stick to my plan and don't let the mess get out of hand)

The lifting from darkness into new light is a message I need often. William S. Plumer notes of Psalm 51, "There is no other Psalm which is oftener sung or prayed in the church. This is the first Psalm in which we have the word 'Spirit' used in application to the Holy Ghost." The gifts and graces given by the Holy Spirit to those seeking to rise above their own human nature are magnificent.

When we fall, the Spirit lends us His wings. We can be supernaturally transported nearer to heaven when we yield to the prompting of the Spirit and do some maintenance on our temples. That saying about confession being good for the soul sure is true!

The Dreaded White Glove Test

Polishing and giving my soul the white glove test is not pleasant, but I know when I'm hesitant to do the necessary work, that's when it's needed the most. When I've neglected my spiritual growth during a long winter, I need to throw open the doors for some fresh spring air.

I also need to examine the internal barriers that prevent me from going to confession. This will often reveal areas that I need to work on. Some of these barriers are denial, justification and rationalization, or a tendency to minimize my actions and weaknesses.

When I experience the sacrament of confession and open my heart to Jesus, I feel new again, cleaned, refreshed, forgiven, joyous, and loved. These blessings allow me to take the risk of being honest. A ray of light pierces the darkest corners of my heart and I come full circle like the psalmist. Peace comes over me, the peace that surpasses all understanding and leads the way Home as I am renewed in Him and touched by His unfathomable mercy.

A wise man once said of confession, "The more Christ is in your life, the more you know your sinfulness."

A beautiful, modern church hymn mirrors Psalm 51 and says it better than me:

"Change our hearts this time, your word says it can be.
Change our minds this time, your life could make us free.
We are the people your call set apart, Lord,
This time change our hearts."
(Rory Cooney, 1984, NALR. Published by OCP Publications.)

Life Applications:

What areas of your temple need dust busting or sweeping out?

After reading Psalm 51, do you see any similarities to yourself and David?

After some work and cleaning, could your temple pass the white glove test?

Copyright 2003 by Angie Ledbetter 
All rights reserved.