Spring-Cleaning
Looking on the inside
by Claire Law
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider the origins of the word ‘February’, and why it is a good time for an inner spring-clean.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Spring-Cleaning) and the means to display them.
- Have available the YouTube video ‘Cleaners – classic Yellow Pages TV advert’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 1.03 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/Ws-0Ea9967o
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Welcome the students to the assembly. - Explain that you are going to show a classic TV advert from the 1990s. While the students are watching, you would like them to consider how easy they find it to relate to the man featured.
Show the YouTube video ‘Cleaners – classic Yellow Pages TV advert’ (1.03 minutes long). - Explain that some of the staff might remember this ad and, even though it’s a bit dated, it’s still amusing.
Many of us will be able to relate to the man in the ad: perhaps our bedroom looks a bit like this man’s flat. He’s become used to the mess around him and has spent no time on tidying or cleaning. It’s only when his neighbour thinks that he’s been burgled that he has a reality check.
I wonder how many of us have rooms at home that are so messy, they might be mistaken for a crime scene! - Show Slide 2.
Traditionally, February is the month when people might start some spring-cleaning. They might choose to call in professional help, like the man in the ad, or they might prefer to don the rubber gloves themselves. - The origins of the word ‘February’ give us a clue that a spring-clean at this time of year is not a new phenomenon. The word is connected to an ancient Roman festival called Februa, which was celebrated annually at this time of year.
Februa was a time for ancient Romans to do some inner spring-cleaning and take part in activities that constituted a spiritual cleansing. During the festival, they would offer sacrifices and take part in ritual bathing. The aim was to bring about a spiritual cleansing for themselves and for the city as a whole.
Today, we might use the words ‘purification’ or ‘atonement’ to describe this kind of inner spring-clean. - The idea of doing a spiritual clean is something that we find in various world religions.
Show Slide 3.
In the Christian tradition, baptism symbolizes the washing away of sin. Whether Christians are baptized as a baby or an adult, the sacrament of baptism symbolizes the belief that God cleanses us of sin.
- Show Slide 4.
Catholic Christians have the sacrament of reconciliation, sometimes called ‘confession’, where they believe that they receive God’s forgiveness by confessing their sins. This is a type of spiritual spring-clean for Catholics. - Show Slide 5.
Jewish people celebrate Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement – by fasting and seeking forgiveness for sins. - Show Slide 6.
In Hinduism, bathing in the River Ganges is believed to be a way to achieve spiritual purification.
Time for reflection
Let’s pause to consider what an inner spring-clean involves for each of us.
Whatever our religious beliefs, the idea of taking stock of our lives and reflecting on what changes we want to make can be helpful. This time of personal reflection can be done mindfully and prayerfully. We can ask for input from others, and we might wish to ask God for guidance as we undertake our own inner spring-clean.
As we take some quiet time in our assembly today, let’s reflect on what spring-cleaning our inner life involves for us.
What thoughts seem to be cluttering up our mind and consuming too much time in our lives?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Perhaps we recognize how cluttered our mind is with worries about things that we can’t change. Perhaps we feel that our mind is littered with thoughts that rush through like a whirlwind. Perhaps we feel that we’d like to enable our mind to rest and relax.
Ask the following questions.
- What would you like to focus your attention upon instead?
- What is it good for you to devote your mental attention to?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Let’s consider our beliefs now.
Ask the following questions.
- What do you believe about yourself?
- What do you believe about other people?
- What do you believe about God?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Ask the following questions.
- Can you spot any beliefs that seem a bit messed up? For example, do you ever feel like you’re useless, or not good enough?
- Do you believe that other people can’t be trusted?
- What do you believe about God?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Finally, let’s take some time to spring-clean our behaviours.
How we act can lead to mess in our relationships. Behaviour that doesn’t align with our values means that we act in a way that feels confusing. It can leave us and the people in our lives unsettled.
If we value friendship, are our recent actions in line with being a good friend? If not, what do we want to change?
Pause to allow time for thought.
During this time of reflection today, we’ve made a commitment to an inner spring-clean. Like cleaning our room, this doesn’t need to be a one-time-only event. Maybe we could consider a regular spot of spiritual spring-cleaning.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Our lives sometimes become messy.
We have messy thoughts and beliefs, and can act in ways that lead to mess in our relationships.
We thank you for our ability to reflect and consider what we want to change.
We thank you that you give us a second chance and an opportunity to change.
Help us to work out what changes we want to make to our thoughts, beliefs and actions.
Give us the courage and wisdom to make changes and find a greater sense of inner peace as a result.
Amen.
