By Kelly Wahlquist

 

 

 

 

 A clean desktop on my iMac makes life seem less stressful and offers a good metaphor for life: Clean your heart, simplify your life!

There’s always been something about a clean space that has made me think, work, create better. Perhaps that’s one way I am made in the Image and Likeness of God; for, He too began with a clean slate… actually, He began with a “formless wasteland and darkness covered the abyss.” Now, I’ll admit my iMac may at times seem like a formless wasteland as I get in a rut of saving things too quickly to my desktop, but what a wonderful feeling to see it all wiped clean and witness the beauty of the picture that lies underneath.

This, too, is how I feel in life sometimes. I get in a rut with sin… same old sins, just increasing in quality and quantity and piling up on the desktop of my soul. How blessed I am to have the forgiveness of my Heavenly Father. To know, without doubt, that the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings forgiveness of sins and a restoring to God’s grace is one of my favorite things about being Catholic. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that those receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a contrite heart experience a true spiritual resurrection, which is followed by a peace and serenity of conscience. That’s it! That is the beauty I experience as I am joined in an intimate friendship with my Creator. That is the wiping clean of my spiritual desktop and a revealing of the beauty God has placed in me, the beauty of His image, the ultimate screensaver!

Sometimes a clean desktop is all I need to ensure a good night’s sleep, but always a clean soul is what I need to ensure serenity of heart… and safeguard me from having to undergo a total reboot.

About the Author:

Kelly Wahlquist is a wife, mother of three, inspiring Catholic author and speaker residing in Minnesota. She is the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization, Assistant Director for the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, and contributing writer for Catholicmom.com. Her book Created to Relate: God’s Design for Peace & Joy encourages and inspires women to live fully their beautiful God-given gifts for building relationships. She is the creator and editor of Walk in Her Sandals: Experiencing Christ’s Passion through the Eyes of Women. Kelly travels the country speaking to all on topics that inspire us to live the New Evangelization, but has a special love for speaking at Catholic women’s events.

 

Photo courtesy of Kelly Wahlquist.   Used with permission.  All rights reserved.