The deep clean of my home continues as my Lenten journey unfolds. The first thing I notice this week was how this process can reflect life. Where to begin? At first it was whatever I noticed. There was a drawer in the living room, then I hung something up in the closet and saw something else, then went into the bathroom and the shower curtain caught my attention. Isn’t that life sometimes? Wandering from one thing to another yet never really feeling like life is being LIVED? Jesus talked about that all the time. Must have seen it all the time. Why else say “let those who have ears to hear.” He was calling those around them to a different frequency of life. Running from room to room, even if it has a purpose, is not the frequency Jesus is calling me to.
So I decided to go to the place that is the most hidden, the most neglected, my bathroom. Now my guest bathroom really gets a good looking at every week. That is my commitment to hospitality to others. But my bathroom…. It’s not filthy but it is no where near as neat tidy and hospitable as the guest bath. As I watch the layer of makeup slowly accumulate on the counter I think, I’ll get to that, after I take care of everyone else first. Can anyone else relate to this?
This week has been bathroom week. My bathroom, the one no one but me sees because I matter. As I washed and rehung the curtain, scrubbed the corners, organized and really looked at what was stored under the sink, I prayed. I had a heart to heart with God about what this room represents about my life. About the life I’ve been given. I have to say it has been an enlightening conversation. I also noticed it has reached out into other areas of my life. I am treating myself with the same hospitality I practice with others. Who knew scrubbing a toilet could be so enlightening. Hmm where to next.
Practice: What is your bottom of the list space in your home? Why? Pay attention to it this week and prayerfully see what you notice.
pathwaysofgrace - a life of practice 