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.
Do you have a room where you can't see the floor, or tools that go
missing in your house? Any advice?
Unfortunately, neatness is my curse. Those hoarding shows are like nightmares for me.
ReplyDeleteBut what is most unfortunate, is that the "one thing needful", my most treasured tool, God's Bible, I seem to misplace. Or rather, I seldom find time for because of all the other clutter I let consume my life .
I can relate. Thanks for your comment.
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