Get rid of excess baggage, simplify, author advises

By Heather Johnston Wicks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Some women find it difficult to
concentrate if their lives are disorganized.

Kim Thomas, a poet, painter, songwriter and author from
Nashville, Tenn., suggests they find some peace by getting rid of
excess baggage. She’s even written a Broadman & Holman book
outlining how to do it.

In “Simplicity: Finding Peace by Uncluttering Your Life,” Thomas
uses biblical principles that women — or men — can use to free
up their physical (or material), emotional and spiritual lives.

“God so much focused my eyes on the interior clutter I’d been
collecting,” she said. “It was a shock to see how the Lord was
revealing himself to me.”

Thomas’ gift for organization grew from spending her childhood
moving from place to place, she said. Growing up, she lived in
Japan, California and several southeastern states.

The frequent shuffles forced Thomas to keep personal possessions
to a minimum. It also taught her how to apply the concept of
simplicity to her life. Thomas said she now makes lists of tasks
she needs to accomplish. Then she makes lists of her lists.

Because Thomas and her husband, Jim, form a contemporary
Christian band, SaySo, she continues to travel, still using her
skills at scaled-down travel.

Thomas’ approach to simplification emphasizes making the mundane
fun, managing time efficiently and detaching from worldly
possessions.

She believes people should free themselves from items they
haven’t used in awhile — from Christmas decorations to clothing.

“If you haven’t used it or reached for it in a year, get rid of
it,” she said.

Once people relinquish unneeded material possessions, they should
find it easier to move on to the next step, reducing emotional
clutter, Thomas said.

Uncluttering emotionally took far more work for Thomas, she said.
However, writing the book helped her clarify how to get rid of
emotional disarray.

She suggests starting by taking inventory of both emotional
surpluses and emotional drains.

Thomas found relational conflicts drained her emotionally, while
simple joys like gardening and painting were fulfilling.

Next, Thomas suggests in her book, after paring down physical and
emotional clutter, it’s time to focus on spiritual clutter.

The hardest part of uncluttering, Thomas said, was keeping her
spirit “sin free and clutter free.”

“I tend to complicate the spiritual side,” she said. “While
growing up, I cluttered my spiritual world with shoulds and musts
so I could gain approval.”

She believes the number one way for someone to remove spiritual
clutter is to try to remove sin.

Thomas draws on what she calls the habits of holiness to achieve
spiritual and emotional peace: forgiveness, meditation, prayer,
fasting and worship. Through these habits, Thomas said she finds
peace through God. Being at peace internally is vital for the
body, soul and spirit, she said.

“These are not unconnected rooms in a house. They all affect each
other. What we do in our physical body relates to our soul and
spirit. You’d be amazed how free you will become if you get rid
of those things that are taking up space in your soul, body and
spirit,” Thomas said.

Simplicity: Finding Peace by Uncluttering Your Life can be found
in LifeWay Christian Stores and other bookstores. It may also be
ordered on-line at www.lifewaystores.com. Broadman & Holman is
the publishing arm of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern
Baptist Convention.

Wicks is a freelance writer from Nashville. (BP) photo, Simplify,
to be posted in the Baptist Press photos library at www.sbc.net.

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23 April 1999