De-cluttering oneself is especially difficult when one's mind is cluttered. "Cluttered" may be a bit generous in my case of late. Disheveled is closer to the mark. So, my aspiration this year is to become a more organized person; the focus of which is to be mentally organized. Of course, writing things in my weekly planner and actually looking at it on occasion will help too. There is also the issue of having a place for everything so everything can be in its place, but without a desk of my own, my papers and such will remain migratory for the time being and this issue must wait its turn for resolution. In the mean time, I will continue daydreaming of a small roll top desk.
Returning to the issue at hand, my mind, I think of the words of The Revelation to St. John, "Do the works you did at first." True, Christ was speaking of returning to one's first love, but the principle of restoration applies to this need also. Back in the day when my mind was young and fresh and focus powers came easily I did a great deal of reading. I also enjoyed the same kinds of diversions I do now but I could afford them then. Now I must wean myself from the time eaters because I have less time in my account to spend. Not only that, but time passes more quickly than it once did. The perspective of time changes as we age, but I can write about that another time. Returning to those earlier habits may prove more difficult than I might hope because I simply have more things I must do and think about now.
Nevertheless, I will take the plunge and dust off that book that sits on my nightstand. I think it's called The Odyssey or something like that. Perhaps you know of it. It's about this guy who wants to get back home. I can relate to the poor fellow because I want the same thing. I have a memory of this peaceful, well-ordered place of comfort and productivity and I want to return there. That's what the ongoing restoration of life is about, continually getting back home where we ought to be and undoing the ever active entropy by pressing on and reordering our lives after God that we might be eye to eye, heart to heart, and toe to toe with him. Organization of mind and a reordering of priorities may seem merely practical activities but in the big picture they can have an eternal impact.