Clear the Clutter to Catch the Clues That Lead You to Success

A few years ago, my husband and I took our seven children to a neighboring state for a read-a-thon. On the way home, we stopped to stay overnight with my sister to break up the trip. The next morning, in our rush to get back on the road, we gathered up blankets and pillows, said our goodbyes, and loaded the van. My husband was at the wheel, and I turned to the back and asked the kids, “We got everybody?”

No objections.

“Great!” I said.

But just as we started rolling down the road, I glanced back again—and realized our 15-year-old was missing.

Oh no, not Nathan! He’s the one we forgot last time!

“Quick! Back up,” I said. “I’ll run in and get him before he realizes we almost forgot him again.”

Within a minute, I was back inside. Hearing Nathan upstairs, I sighed with relief. Whew—he hadn’t noticed.

My brother-in-law looked at me, confused, so I whispered, “We forgot Nathan… don’t say anything.”

Soon after, Nathan opened the door and I called out casually, “Nathan… time to go!”

He ran downstairs, said his goodbyes, and we climbed into the van. Just as we were about to drive off, someone in the back asked, “Where’s Nicholas?”

We gasped. How did we miss Nicholas?

“Nathan,” I said, “will you go find Nicholas?”

“Sure,” he said, and ran inside.

A few moments later, it wasn’t Nathan who came out, but my brother-in-law. In his robe, arms outstretched, eyes wide, he stood there gesturing like, What the—?

We chuckled as he disappeared back inside. Then, just as suddenly, he reappeared in the doorway, this time holding up three fingers.

Three?

Out came Nathan... with Nicholas...

...AND Bethany.

Okay, in my defense: we were in a 15-passenger van packed with pillows, blankets, and backpacks. Even when all the kids are in their seats, you still can’t see them. And if you’re relying on one kid to let you know someone’s missing—but that kid is also missing—well, you see the problem.

Did you know you can leave three children behind and not even realize it?

I do now.

It reminded me of a story about a family on a road trip who stopped at a gas station. Hours later, they realized they had to go back—not for a child, but for the mom’s prescription glasses. The return trip cost time and gas… and when they got there, they found their son waiting there too.

This kind of distractedness can be costly—not just in time or resources, but in what matters most: relationships.

In my case, I thought we were ready to go. But I was wrong. The clutter in the van—and my rush—kept me from seeing the clues (those empty seats) that would’ve told me exactly what needed to happen next.

Had we continued on, it would have cost us more than just time or gas. It might have damaged trust. And in the long run, that’s a much higher price.

So how do we avoid this kind of absent-mindedness? Maybe the first step is simply to clear the clutter. Because clutter—mental, physical, emotional—can distract us from the quiet indicators that point us to the next inspired step on our journey.

What are you trying to achieve?

• Financial freedom?

• Stronger family connections?

• Better health?

• Peace of mind?

• A deep sense of fulfillment?

It’s possible that there’s something critical—something urgent and important—that you’re not even seeing right now.

And if the clutter of life is keeping you from recognizing it, you may end up having to circle back to fix something that could have been handled right now.

So what kind of clutter gets in the way?

“Clutter” might look like:

• Too many unnecessary activities crowding your day. (Life is short—spend time on what matters most.)

• Too many unused items in your home or office. (Things were made to serve you—not the other way around. If something’s not serving you anymore, pass it along.)

• Too many meaningless conversations that dwell on gossip or fluff. (Instead, talk about uplifting ideas.)

• Too many meaningless non-family relationships (is there a positive exchange of service, knowledge, or value taking place... or not?)

If you’re distracted by all that noise, it’s easy to overlook what’s obvious—like an empty seat in the van. Eventually, you may have to go back and tend to what was neglected before you can reach your destination—whole and fulfilled.

So here’s my invitation: Take inventory.

Where are you headed?

Do your actions, conversations, possessions, and relationships support that direction? If not, clear what you can—and then look around. You might spot a gaping hole right in front of you—something urgent that needs your love and attention now.

Take care of it now, and your path will be smoother, quicker, and more aligned.

(And hey, if you’ve ever lost track of a child like we did, don’t feel too bad… it even happened to Joseph and Mary when Jesus was twelve.)

To your success,
Leslie

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