If I’m honest, it may have been a simple case of avoidance. “Deconstructing Christmas decorations is my favorite thing to do,” said no one ever. So, it made perfect sense that that moment was the ideal time to kick off a new year’s initiative, right? Organizing and decluttering closets and drawers suddenly became just as important as putting away the circus of ornaments, snarl of lights, and crates of holiday decor.
I was in an all too rare mood to get rid of things I hoped would serve and delight new owners, and I knew from experience I needed to act before the feeling passed. Purging is a real challenge for me sometimes, not because I’m a hoarder so much, but because everything seems to hold a special memory. To discard something I once held dear, gifts from others or even personal purchases — clothing, jewelry, art, furniture, surcies — feels like I’m dismissing the value of what it meant to me at the time or the person who gave it to me. This isn’t true, of course, but still. It feels like it.
Though I haven’t read Marie Kondō’s, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, I know its premise is to let go of the things that no longer “spark joy” in life. On my mission to return our home to its pre-Christmas condition, I found a new mission to rid our home of anything that sucked joy.
That is until I stumbled onto a new, new mission, and suddenly I couldn’t do anything but deal with this:
Ages ago, I had repurposed a scarf hanger in my closest for necklaces and chains. One day I accidentally knocked it down, and in the process, made a terrible mess. I tried to untangle the jewelry, but the more frantically I tried, the more the knots seemed to tighten. Exasperated, I finally tossed them all in a bowl and left them for another day.
Apparently “another day” happened to take place the week after Christmas.
I dumped the necklaces onto my bathroom counter and studied the pile, gently separating pieces that were easy to loosen. A few others became disentangled with only a little more effort. But it was those last few that tried my patience, challenging my salvation, as if such a thing were possible. I was tempted to give up, but sentimental attachment (and some 14kt gold) kept me going.
Resigned to the task at hand, I took a deep breath, determined to finish what I started. The more carefully I focused, the more clearly I could trace the path of each knot and conclude what I needed to do next. Noting how the ends arrived in a tangle provided the clues about how to unravel them.
I also discovered this was slow work. If I tried to pull them apart too forcefully, I only made matters worse. Working slowly, methodically, and gently yielded the best results. I also realized I worked more efficiently with help. No, there wasn’t anyone around to give me a hand, but I found it was easier if the counter supported the weight of the necklaces rather than me holding the pile — not only were both hands free to work, but there was no resistance when the chains were laying flat. I borrowed my husband’s readers to magnify the more delicate knots and used point-tip tweezers, the perfect tool to wiggle some of the knots loose.
Quiet, steady, and making progress, with nothing to listen to but my thoughts, I began to sense the Lord revealing Himself to me. What a surprise and delight for such a mundane chore to bear witness to God and remind me of Scripture that paralleled what I was doing. It wasn’t so much a literal correlation, but my actions were bringing to mind familiar verses and words long-hidden in my heart.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (CSB)
The more I focused on what I was doing, the more clear it became what to do next.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes — but God, don’t put it off.
Psalm 40:17 (MSG)
I am a mess, though on that day, I was working with a mess. Isn’t it incredible that God can take a mess and make something beautiful?
It may seem like a stretch for these scriptures to “fit” what I was doing that day, but untangling those necklaces showed me how God used an everyday task to turn my thoughts toward Him. Making a connection between my work and God’s Word reminded me that all of life is holy and precious.
Though I had “squirreled!” all over the place that day, I was reminded that, indeed, God is in the details. The drudgery of all my chores became a joy when I remembered 1) they’re all things I get to do, and truly, 2) all of life is deeply spiritual. When my heart and mind shifted to consider each task an opportunity — and this year, as in every year, we will have many — I couldn’t help but praise God for all my messes, including myself. Each is an opportunity to respond as 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
What task are you going to see as an opportunity to do for the glory of God?
God can take a mess and make something beautiful. - @RobinDance: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Robin,
This post reminds me of John 3:11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” The first church in Acts 2:45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Even in the beginning people were sharing their stuff. God wants us to help other believers by sharing what we have. Just yesterday I went through my clothes again & got rid of a few more. Every task I do is for God’s glory. I don’t bemoan doing anything anymore. Jeff & Sheri Easter have a song “I Get to”. The lyrics talk about having to go to church, help his dad, or say I love you. Now after dad’s heart attack & his wife’s cancer scare he gets to do all those things. As I age I’m seeing each job as an undertaking for His glory. It may not seem like much to me but to someone else it could mean the world. So glad God takes, uses messes like us & makes something beautiful.
Blessings 🙂
Oooo, I’ll have to track down that song! My #OneWord is “Get-to” this year!! Doesn’t the beginning of a year spur us on to cleaning and clearing? Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Beth :).
Awesome summary Beth! I like you last line “So glad God takes , uses the messes like us & makes something beautiful!’ Likewise, asking God’s hand in my messes makes them seem so much more easier to deal with in times of so many struggles.
Robin,
Isn’t it awesome how God can use any and every incidence to relay or reinforce His Truth to us?! If we are willing to have “teachable” spirits, God can use so many opportunities to bring majesty from the mess we live in. I have not read that book, but my husband and I are in the process of what we call “10% Tithe & Toss”. At the start of a new year, we reevaluate our tithe to our church and our additional charitable giving. Are we giving enough? Can we tighten our belts and give more?? We also go room to room together (misery loves company). One room at a time, we go through it and say 10% of what’s in here needs to go. We don’t actually “toss” it, but if it can be donated and bring someone else some comfort or joy, and we aren’t really using it, then it’s time to part ways. It really is cathartic to lighten the load. Knowing these items could be used and enjoyed by someone else, gives a sense of joy to let it go. I, too, have some tangled jewelry. You’ve inspired me, Robin, to give it a go. Love this analogy!!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, what a wonderful first-of-year practice. I’ve never thought about going room by room to see what might be best used by someone else. Hmmmm…you have me thinking now :). DO let me know if you get your jewelry untangled; you’ll be thinking of God and His word the whole time you’re working on the mess, I bet :).
Love, love the spiritual analogy you’ve made here for us….don’t we all have a tangled mess of jewelry, cluttered closets, and a makeup drawer that needs purging….and SO MUCH more!
This reminds of a another related favorite scripture: Colossians 3:23.
Thank you for sharing and reminding us Jesus is guiding the mundane and most intricate tasks every moment of our days!
Andree, Yes! That scripture IS a perfect companion to this (thank you for reminding me 🙂 ).
Oh, Robin!!! I love this. It is such a timely reminder for me. These words are powerful and this might be one of my favorite things you have written.
Mary, oh, friend…you have such a gift of affirmation, and your words here are powerful encouragement in their own right. xo
Oh, Robin Dance! What a gorgeous analogy. Thank you so much! Untangle us, Lord!
Patricia, thank you for reading and commenting, but mostly for sharing a three-word prayer that says so much. xo
Hello Robin! I’m all over this post! Me to a tee:) I’ve realized my mess is comfortable but God is a God of order.. sooo on I go too, purging and untangling here & there. Trying this with a relationship or two also… untangling is my problem usually not others.. busy brain syndrome runs away and I think more than I act.. thanks for the encouragement and when I tangled up the bowl I did the same job only a straight pin or needle removed knots like magic! Blessings and happy Sunday \0/
Your words made me smile, Sadie. I imagine if I had had a straight pin nearby, it would’ve become a useful tool, too. Glad I have an incourage Sistah who gets this from the inside out!!
I have a mountain of laundry that has been growing since I decided I needed to reorganize my daughter’s dresser. It feels insurmountable, so I have been avoiding it. I’m going to try and tackle it with the thought that I am doing it for the glory of God. Hopefully, I can at least make a dent!
Elizabeth,
Tell me if you tackled that laundry TO THE GLORY OF GOD, and if your changed heart-attitude made a difference :). I really wanna know–yes, no, or whatever!!
Adding my prayer to others’ here, and thankful for the simplicity of your profound lesson: “Yes, Lord, Untangle away!”
Sometimes simple prayers are the very best. They connect us to God right away. 🙂
Here is a continuation to the Resolution That Matters by Dawn Camp as we heard our pastor’s sermon regarding the theme “Reset”,and it was about self identity, especially PRIDE, to ponder on:
By God’s help I aim daily to practice forgetting myself by remembering whose I am.
By God’s help I aim daily to practice forgetting about myself so I can be free to treat others the way God treats me – like family.
Carrie, how beautiful for you to connect all these dots :).
I love this, and it will actually help me with a project my husband and I have been tackling this month. Our boys are in college and we’re finally cleaning out their childhood playroom with plans to repaint, pack up and store the special toys we want to keep, and give away the rest. I find memories of the boys in every bin and box. Now I can move beyond the sentimental and make it a spiritual exercise to give praise for the past and present and pray over the present and future of my boys. This will take a chore that I avoided for years and make it a joy and delight to get closer to God in the process.
{{Gretchen}} I still think you need a hug; the perspective shift will help you, but I feel every bit of those emotions. The truth is, you’ll be glad you’ve done this, and THEY will be glad. I’ve gotten rid of so much, but I still could purge a little more.
Love this post and the analogy! I must confess my tree is still up…and I don’t hate it! I, too, am going through and purging/donating as Christmas decor gets packed away. I’ve done this with every season and am anxious to rid myself of all the excess. (Where does all this stuff come from??!!) I’ve read Marie Kondo’s book and it is a real eye opener. While I haven’t used her methods exactly, her process is extremely helpful. If I’m on the fence about keeping or ridding an item, I ask myself if I would take it if I were moving. Most of the time the answer is no! And when it seems insurmountable (again) I time myself 20 minutes and start something-anything…and those 20 minutes add up. Oh, to be able to rid myself of all those “squirrel” moments…lol!
Thankfully God’s not finished with me yet!
Indiane, I wrote my entire book using the Pomodoro Method–setting a timer for 25 minute increments with a short break between each, and a longer break after four segments. You are absolutely right, those 20 minute projects add up! Still, I’m squirrely, so I feel you :). Indeed, praise God He’s fine that we’re works in progress :).
GREAT post! I find the connection between the sorting through and letting go of household items and the sorting through and letting go of things in my heart that God would not want there facinating. I too have been doing that sorting and letting go thing while de-Christmassing. I found there to be a line at the donation door at Goodwill. I’m not the only one I suppose. Praying that God will help me as I also do the sorting through and letting go within as I purpose to be more and do more for Him in 2019. Thanks for posting this!
I’m praying over you right now, Patsy! To be all about the Lord in 2019 will change you, day by day. That’s exciting.
Robin, thank you for this timely reminder. I must have read something else you’ve written because I remember this necklace story, but this came on a day when I needed to hear it again. Thankful that God isnt surprised by or needs time to process the messes we make or simply have to deal with.