Note: In this feature, Whitney Hopler profiles women who write about faith. If you are the author of a new book (published within the past six months) and would like to be considered for an interview, please email Melanie.
By Whitney Hopler
How cluttered is your home? Many people struggle with a clutter problem, yet don’t make much of an effort to address it. Why? Household clutter can seem like an annoying but not serious issue, and the decluttering process can seem like a boring chore. Author Mary Elizabeth Sperry aims to open people’s minds to think about decluttering from a spiritual perspective in her new book Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life. Her book makes it clear that God actually does care about household clutter, and that the decluttering process can be an adventure in faith.
Managing too many possessions limits people’s time and energy that they could otherwise spend on something good God intends for them, 
Sperry says. “People could ask themselves the question, ‘When I get my house decluttered I will (fill in the blank).’ Whatever that is, it is an opportunity that clutter is stealing from you.”
Sperry writes in the book’s preface: “This book isn’t just about the state of your house; it’s about the state of your soul. As I continue to wage battle against the clutter in my house, I’ve discovered that clutter not only has practical and financial implications; it has spiritual consequences as well. … I am learning that dealing with clutter can help me to deal with some of the barriers that keep me from living as the person God calls me to be.”
In an interview, she recalls how she began the journey of decluttering her own home with a sense of humor: “I started to 
realize, oh my goodness, I have so much stuff. I had enough hand lotion in my house to moisturize a crocodile for several days. I had a bunch of old traveler’s checks. Do they even make those anymore? It was too much. So I stared to ask myself: ‘Why is this here?” That same sense of humor shows up in Sperry’s writing throughout the book as she tackles the serious issue of decluttering in a narrative that makes readers feel that a friend is guiding them through the journey.
Decluttering has become trendy now that many people are trying to relieve stress by simplifying their lives. Sperry points out that those who think about the issue also realize that having too much stuff impacts the greater good beyond their own lives. “Americans are becoming more aware of how our consumption habits have an impact on the common good – the psychological impact, environmental impact, and more.”
While most books on decluttering focus on organizational principles, Sperry’s book delves deeper into the core of the issue – people’s spiritual stewardship of the possessions they own. “All the organizational advice in the world is not going to fix the problem of too much – and the problem of too much is not an organizational problem; it’s a spiritual problem,” she says.
Sperry affirms that material possessions themselves are good gifts from God, so it’s not sinful to own and enjoy possessions. Instead, people are accountable to God for how they manage their possessions. It can be sinful for people to buy more they need, to waste, or to neglect sharing with others in need. Sin can also taint people’s relationships with material things when they place their trust in those things rather than in God Himself for security.
Thankfully, God is always willing to give people the grace they need to make healthy changes in their lives like decluttering. No amount of clutter is beyond the reach of God’s grace, Sperry says, and when people apply their faith to the decluttering process they can make real progress improving their homes as well as their relationships with God. “Our faith has to inform every part of your lives. God doesn’t like boxes; He wants to be a part of everything that we do – including taking care of our homes.”
Making Room for God offers lots of practical guidance for readers to use as they declutter their homes – from how to honor the memories behind sentimental items to how to identify the best places in their communities for donations that help people in need.
Beyond its practical tips, the book offers a thought-provoking approach to discipleship while going through the decluttering process. “It’s really a conversion process to change habits over time,” says Sperry. “The more you do it, the easier it becomes. The more you try to live a certain way, the more it becomes ingrained in you, and the more you will see the fruit of that change. The more you open yourself to the Holy Spirit, the more God’s grace will operate in you.”
Sometimes people start to declutter, only to stop once they get discouraged by the work that it requires. But Sperry encourages people to stay in touch with God and focus on their goals for fresh motivation day by day. “If you keep your focus on the positive things you desire, you’ll be able to stay motivated.”
The more people get rid of clutter in their homes, the more they can enjoy the beauty of order emerge in their living space – and realize that order is a gift that God wants them to enjoy. “Decluttering gives you a physical touchstone to see God’s grace at work in your life,” Sperry says.
Whitney Hopler has written extensively about faith for Crosswalk.com, About.com, and other places. 
She serves as the communications coordinator at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.
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