Messy Living : Possessions and People

   Hesitantly, the 30-something mother opened her preteen daughter’s bedroom door.  The blue carpet was visible in small patches between the shoes, books, clothes, and pillows on the floor. Various shades of nail polish bottles stood on the dresser amid earrings, necklaces, and hairbands. Crumbs across the bed, and a faint old yogurt smell hinted at a broken “don’t eat in your room” rule. Mom’s face flushed with frustration.  Then with the defusing thought “pick your battles” she slowly closed the door.

   “Where is that tiny screwdriver for repairing eyeglasses?”  Jerry asked his wife. He had checked the kitchen junk drawer, and the tool cabinet in the basement to no avail.  “Who used it last, and where?” he continued, wondering why his family members seemed unable to put things back where they belonged.  Having an organized place for every tool and household item just made sense.  Wasting time looking for things was more than an annoyance for Jerry.  It just wasn’t right!

  

   Messies.  Do you live or work with one, or heaven forbid, more than one?  What gives some people the right to turn spaces into shambles, neatness into nastiness? Why can’t we all just get along in an efficient, amicable, orderly way?  

Do Messes Matter?

   Are you overly organized, contently unkempt or somewhere in between on the clutter scale?  Where is the rulebook on how much disarray is to be allowed in activities of daily living?   Do you know people have the challenge (opportunity?) of living with individuals who thrive in an unaware-of-disorder dimension?  

The Possessions Problem

   Most of the where-to-keep-stuff debate in my house, I feel, is too much stuff! Between the mail, magazines, rummage sale deals, inherited treasures, dollar store must-haves, simplifying your life books, and items for every desire we may experience, we lack nothing.  We are blessed abundantly through provision of basic needs. But the overabundance of nonessentials is embarrassing.  Organizing an overflowing closet, storing several spare appliances, or making room for a bigger vehicle in the garage, is not a worry of most people in the world.  According to the Pew Research Center the global standard of a middle income is living on $10 a day.  Most of my disarray problem is due to wealth.  

The Master and Messes

   Did Jesus need to teach the disciples to keep their fishing equipment clean and put away? There was that incident when he told them where to throw their nets. (John 21:6)  He was kind when a lady broke an alabaster jar; spilling so much perfume on him it probably stained the couch. (Mark 14:3-9) And yet Jesus praised her.

So the Solution Is…

   There are varied viewpoints on acceptable amounts of possessions and disorganization.  We can ask God to expand our vision and direct our priorities.  He promises to answer that prayer.

                                                    

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Do you have a room where you can't see the floor, or tools that go missing in your house?  Any advice?