Last week Jody and I watched a film called Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. This was not a feel-good piece, but the movie was definitely thought-provoking.

At the film’s end Jody posed a simple question, “What are you going to do about it?”

I don’t yet know the specific answer to that question, but my general answer is ‘something.’ I want to do something about it.

For the uninitiated, The Minimalists are a couple of former corporate lackeys who exited the rat race, forgoing their six-figure salaries and their cocoons of comfortable possessions to pursue more meaningful lives.

According to their own words, Minimalism is, “a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.”

This was a fitting film to watch during Lent. The forty days we spend in this season are meant to be more intentional and more focused. We strip away the habitual and nonessential to clear the path to clarity during these weeks.

These 40 days represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness enduring temptation. During his time in the desert, He was promised all the kingdoms and riches of the world if He would only compromise his principles. Yet He didn’t waiver to the allure of excess.

Before the documentary’s credits were even done rolling, Jody was ready to put a For Sale sign in our yard. While I am not quite ready to make that leap, the idea of stripping away unnecessary spending and the resulting clutter has great appeal to me.

As I traversed this Lenten season, stripping away the unessential was a focal point. But my brand of minimalism has been focused on mental and emotional clutter. I am thinking less of the things I need to remove from my life and more of thoughts that are weighing me down.

What lies are keeping me stuck?

What unhealthy mental patterns play out in my life?

What areas of my life have I put on cruise control?

Where do I need to grow? What is keeping me from growing?

What unimportant pursuits am I allowing to steal my time?

What habits should I let go of?

What thoughts should I let go of?

These are the questions that have been burning in my mind during Lent – questions further stoked by this documentary. What mental and emotional baggage am I carrying that is cluttering up my life?

I struggle with self-inflicted anxiety and stress. I worry too much about what people think about me and often overcompensate as a result. These stressors lead me to be impatient and angry, sometimes with the folks I love the most.

These are just a few pieces of the baggage I carry – the clutter that creates discontent in my life.

What am I going to do about it?

Something…definitely something.