Scenes of God’s handiwork surrounded Adam and Eve in Eden: awesome oaks, fragrant flowers, lush shrubs, babbling brooks, majestic mountains, and peaceful ponds. And in all of God’s work, order and simplicity prevailed.
Take a look around at where you live and work. Are these two environments clean and orderly? Or do you see piles of old magazines, over-stuffed closets and cluttered counter space?
Visual clutter and disorganization leech our energy, sap our strength and reduce our sense of peace. Removing clutter and organizing our environments can clear the mind, soothe the spirit and create inner calm.
Ours is the privilege of making our home the kind of place that nurtures our spirit and awakens good memories. Surround yourself with whatever it is that fills you with peace, comfort and joy and that uplifts your soul.
Before his death, Henri Matisse, the great modern French painter, spent many months bedridden with colon cancer. His family moved his bed so he could take in the view of the countryside from his bedroom window. More importantly, they kept changing what was on his windowsill so he could be continually inspired to paint. He did some of his most famous pieces from that bed.
Why not take a cue from the Matisse family? Add a little visual spice to your space. Try rotating or alternating your family photos, artwork and displays. Many picture frames now hold several pictures at once, so you can change the subjects often. You can also treat them as a “traveling art show” by shifting them from room to room. A change of location also works well with plants. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the visual variety may inspire you to new levels of personal creativity — just as it did for Henri Matisse.
MY PRAYER
Lord, thank You for all the beauty You have given us. Help me to create environments around me that promote a sense of peace and joy for myself and others. Amen.
