Deep South Eco-Spiritual

Three weeks and one day ago, I sat on the marble fireplace stoop, the only chair in a vacated house. Sunlight blushed the beige walls peach. From this perch I viewed three chandeliers, antiqued bronze with four, five, and nine lights around the fixtures. Each singular metal curl held a cup that cradled a frosted, glass shade?greater elegance with less frou-frou.

Three weeks and one day ago Buddy and his sister's voices echoed from the master bedroom. On the Frieze carpet my twenty-something, adult progeny scratched pencils and notepads to nail killer Colonel Mustard in the dining room with the wrench.

I expressed shock and laughed. Central air chased the humidity from my skin. I tossed my sandals off so I could wiggle my toes on the faux oak flooring. Except for spider webs and dust bunnies, the house looked squeaky-clean empty.

As I sat my in-laws called from vacation to say how they "thoroughly enjoyed Crater Lake." In Northwest America, the Maker formed this lake by hurling a meteorite into the mountain, carving out a space, deep and empty. In that emptied space heaven's rains filled with peaceful waters that nurtured firs, plants, and wildlife. It's become a place of supernatural elegance.

Week four in our Deep South abode, we've filled the emptied home with furniture and decor, attempting to do more with less. We came with Pods of stuff. But as we packed, we took a hard look at what not to bring.

Sure I'll still window shop any day I can; it's my kind of exercise. In the lean jobless months, however, I've learned to hone the art of shopping. I pray God's help to spend less gas and money on things. Even this second September week we continue to donate what we oddly considered "treasures" to keep.

You don't need to be green or buy green to turn a home into an ecological haven. Our house has homeowners' association covenants we must abide by to live here. The true Owner has greater covenants upon us: to steward, diligently care for what He gifted to us.Neglect and trashing are not part of the agreement. The earth and all in it belong to the Only One who can save it.

My hope is to allow this deep Southern space to be sanctified, uncluttered, a place of peace and heaps of love.

What's your heart's desire for your given spaces (house, apartment, farm, ranch, business, or hut)?

Lord, anoint our given spaces, that they be eco-spiritual. Carve them of selfishness and stuff. Instead, let our places become open and airy, where the Holy One breathes, where love resides, where Grace overflows to touch a world of needy people. So be it.

"For the earth is the Lord's and everything in it." 1 Corinthians 10:26