All around the neighborhood for the past two weeks have been signs of pre-New Year activity. In a word - cleaning. The wall around the garden. All the screens from the house windows lined up to be washed. Larger piles of discarded household items set out on the Wednesday pickup day.
Starting the new year with a clean house, a clean slate, a chance for a do-over. The sad part is that there is no significant change in the hearts of the people, and that's the only way to initiate real change.
Has your heart been changed, cleaned, made new?
Luke 11: 24-26
1 comment:
I love this Japanese tradition. I think it can be so purifying to clear out the memories and problems of the old year and embrace the freshness of the new year. But, you're absolutely right, unless there's a real heart change, these improvements are cosmetic at best.
At least it provides a good chance to start a conversation about the heart. Have you tried to talk to your friends about that?
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