If the magazine rack in the grocery store check-out line could talk it would say, “Stop right there woman with a thousand balls up in the air. You need to buy this edition of Organize magazine in order to get your life together. A few simple steps and you will be clutter-free for life.” As the giant Venus fly trap in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ yells, “Feed Me!”, so the magazines shout, “Buy Me!” I am caught by the sweet fragrance of ‘self-help’ and of course…I buy them. Guess where they are now? In a “throw pile” labeled “Organize”. Irony indeed.

Any Feng Shui master would literally be stricken ill upon seeing my throw piles that have their own set of throw piles. We live on a daily basis between an overstuffed attic and a garage that is literally a fire hazard. If we had to leave the house quickly, there would be broken bones upon escape. It’s funny how cleaning out a simple drawer empowers me. Just think of the power instilled if I managed to purge and bring order to our entire house. I just might run for mayor! My husband reminds me…take one step at a time.

About 15 years ago, my cousin said to me, “If you are not organized now, you never will be.” If words could kill (insert sideways glancing emoji.). How could she put a knife right through the heart of my desire to be organized? Now, 15 years later, I realize she had a point. I continue to think, “as soon as this or that happens, I will have time to clean out and toss”. But the responsibilities have not lightened. They seem to keep growing.

Finding order is important in life. God was the brilliant designer of order in the universe. Sir Isaac Newton, the author of the theory of gravitation and the father of calculus, was said to have become increasingly spiritual as he uncovered the laws of order in the universe.

“…he became more deeply assured that there had to be a divine creator of a universe of such capacity and yet run with such precision”.

Going to God with my desire for order brings me great peace. (Note: a magazine doesn’t have quite the same effect.) He clears the clutter out of my head in my morning quiet time. I am gently reminded that focus is indeed one of my ‘stumbling blocks’ but by God’s grace it will not get the best of me! He finds the beauty in this and redirects the chaos to the light.

Ask God to give you order in your hearts. Embrace your gifts and the uniqueness God has blessed you with. Do not be held back by drudgery. Where there is truly order in life there is beauty; beauty deeper than the drawers in the dresser, the books on the shelf and the magazines on the rack. Instead of looking for the light at the end of the tunnel; bask in the light throughout the tunnel.

“Thou takest the pen ~ the lines dance.
Thou takest the flute ~ and the notes shimmer.
Thou takest the brush ~ and the colors sing.
So all things have meaning and beauty and space beyond time where thou art.
How then, can I hold back anything from thou?”

Dag Hammarskjold via Dorothy Valcarcel author of “When a Woman meets Jesus.”

“Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133