Theology of Housework

In the last few weeks, I've read a couple of interesting books that have given me new insight into how housework--keeping your home clean and nice--can be a spiritual discipline.

First, there is the simplified living angle: by 1. Making thoughtful choices about the products we buy and don't buy, 2. Taking good care of what we own to extend its life and 3. Letting go of the things we don't want or need we can make our lives less cluttered and demonstrate care for the earth.

The second angle has more to do with beauty. If you have ever lived on the East Coast with a native Californian, you know that rainy days can really have an effect on our moods and temperament. In the same way, a well-kept home can give us inner sunshine. Or, to put it in a less cheesy way, our surroundings affect our inner life.

I was at a retreat center over the weekend, and one of the things I enjoyed about being there was that the decorations and furniture were carefully chosen for an atmosphere of quiet and contemplation. There weren't any piles of paper (my usual vice, as Heather can attest) or other clutter lying around, and the whole place contributed to a sense of spiritual openness and peace.

So, I like that image of the home as a place of retreat, but it is also a place for hospitality. Which brings us to the real reason for housework: getting ready for the guests to arrive. Don't you find it refreshing to look around your home while you're waiting for them to arrive, and to just enjoy the sense of preparation and order? What would it do for our souls if we had that kind of beauty and order most of the time?