As the seasons change, a lot of us like to clean out our homes and unload some of the junk we’ve acquired over the summer. One trendy approach to decluttering is the Marie Kondo method, named after the author who popularized it. Overly simplified, it’s a process that compels you to go through your closets, your garage, your basement — all the places you collect the dreaded “stuff.” As you do so, you hold up the items and ask yourself: “Does it spark joy?”

It’s a question that is bold in its simplicity. In answering, you’re supposed to go with your gut. If it’s a quick “Yes, it sparks joy,” the item should be kept. If the answer is no, it gets tossed. 

There are people in life who will support our efforts to do God’s will. There are those who will, as Paul says, “convince, reprimand, (and) encourage,” unafraid of the reaction we give them. There are those who will shore up our defenses when the battle goes longer than we thought. 

The same goes for hobbies and pastimes. There are those that will ennoble our minds and bring us closer to God. And there are also those that will drain our funds and our free time, with nothing to show for it.

During these autumn months, don’t just declutter your basement in preparation for the hauling out of the Christmas ornaments. Take stock of the people and pursuits that make up your life. With each one, ask yourself: “Does it spark holiness?”

If the answer is yes, thank God that our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to declutter.