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| Life is like...a pile of junk? |
“To
invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”~Thomas A. Edison
I have a junk drawer in my
kitchen. Actually, I’m ashamed to say, I have more than one and in other rooms
of the house. The one pictured on the left is one of my neater drawers! J You probably have one, as well,
that collects odds and ends, extra straws, rubber bands, coupons, and little
plastic pieces that fit on something,
but who knows what? Stray crayons, pencils, and my personal favorite—ink pens
that no longer write!
No doubt, Edison embraced junk,
but lately, I’ve thought about how our lives can resemble junk drawers. And,
unlike Edison, my creativity is hampered by junk. I’ve been feeling a nudge by
the Holy Spirit to start cleaning out the junk. Turn the drawer upside down, let
everything spill out, and then start over, assembling the proper order,
perspective, and priorities to achieve my ministry and writing goals.
After all, it’s God’s ministry to
do with what He wishes. I’m just the vessel He works through. But when I allow
my schedule, my priorities, and society (yes, even Christian society), to interfere,
it’s time to toss the drawer and see what needs to remain.
I’m in this process now.
Reexamining my goals and the path I’ve chosen to achieve them is at the top of
the list. I’m doing some intense soul searching and praying to reach tough
decisions. Tough rarely looks attractive and will never be mistaken for ease.
But it’s often necessary.
“Be
very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most
of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be
foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
This verse from Ephesians is one
of my favorites because it reflects my earnest desire not to waste my
God-ordained time and to understand what He wants me to do with this time.
I’d appreciate your prayers as I
embark on the journey to empty the junk drawer and discern what goes back in
and what gets tossed.
Now, it’s your turn. What one thing could you do to make
life simpler or more functional, whether on an emotional, physical, or
spiritual level? How do you plan to achieve this? If you’d like to share to
encourage others, please do so. I’d love to hear from you!
You're the one who conquers giants
You're the one who calls out kings
You shut the mouths of lions
You tell the dead to breathe
You're the one who walks through fire
You take the orphan's hand
You are the one Messiah
You are I am
You are I am
(MercyMe)
I’ve added a new page at the top
of my blog on mental illness. It contains a collection of articles I’ve
written, as well as resource information. If you or a loved one is struggling
with this issue, please take a moment to check it out.
Prayer
Requests:
If you have a prayer need, please
share it in the comments or e-mail me confidential requests. Our prayer list is
located at the top of the blog along with info on Sgt. Jesse McCart, an
American soldier injured by an IED in Afghanistan. Our soldiers continue to
suffer and be killed from these type injuries in Afghanistan. Would you take a
few moments to pray for these folks? Thanks!
God bless,
Laura
✞
©Laura Hodges Poole
