by Father Mark Goldasich
Are you conducting science experiments in your home? If you’re tempted to answer “no,” head to your kitchen right now, open the refrigerator and reach way into the back. I suspect you’ll find some “forgotten” items there that you might be hard pressed to identify.
Did you know that Nov. 15 is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day? It was started in 1999 by Whirlpool Home Appliances. Not only is this a healthy thing to do but it gets the fridge ready for all the delicious foods for Thanksgiving and the holiday season.
If you’re ready to tackle this task, start by emptying each shelf and tossing expired and moldy food. (On a side note, it was quite a while since I’d last done this and I was tempted to call in a HAZMAT team!) Remove the shelves and wipe down the interior as well as the drawers (and underneath them). Vacuum the condenser coils. Clean the floor underneath the fridge as well as its top. Finally, wipe down the exterior and door seals. And don’t forget items languishing in the freezer. (These instructions are found on the Food Safety Training & Certification website.)
When cleaning out your fridge, do two additional things: First, ask the Lord for forgiveness for wasting food when there are so many hungry people in the world. Secondly, resolve to be better about treating food as the precious gift that it is.
Early autumn is a wonderful time for cleaning out — not just the refrigerator but other places as well. For example, in anticipation of the influx of new toys that your kids will get at Christmas, clear out some space now. Often, people wait until after Christmas to pass on used toys to thrift stores. It’s better instead to donate right now so that families shopping there for Christmas gifts have a selection to choose from before the holidays arrive.
Or how about clearing out some space in your finances for a charitable cause? Your mailbox will be flooded soon with holiday appeals or year-end giving opportunities. Pick one or two that you normally don’t support and surprise them.
We can also clear out time in our busy schedules to attend an Advent reconciliation service or Christmas program; volunteer some time at a charity; visit a nursing home or some homebound relatives or parishioners; or simply spend unhurried time with family watching a movie, baking some goodies, decorating or enjoying a game night.
This time of year is typically known as the season of giving. But how do you give? Ponder these seven levels of giving, as outlined in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett:
1. Giving to the poor but grudgingly
2. Giving with good grace but not nearly enough
3. Giving enough but only after being asked
4. Giving without being asked
5. Giving without knowing who will benefit from the gift
6. Giving without the beneficiary of the gift knowing who is helping
7. Fighting poverty by giving poor persons the means to escape from their condition
Obviously, giving is always better than not giving, no matter the reason. But giving at the higher levels above can make unselfish generosity a hallmark of our life.
Perhaps the most important thing to clean out in these days is not a thing at all: It’s our attitude. St. Paul said it best in his Letter to the Ephesians:
“All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” (4:31-32).
OK, I’m heading back to my refrigerator. Gee, what I thought was just a task is turning into a career!
