Tuesday, May 3, 2011

While standing at the bathroom sink

The best place for thinking, meditating, and praying for me is often when my hands are busy...in the busiest room, the kitchen or better yet... in the smallest room of the house...the bathroom!   Probably because I can close the door to be truly alone!  I've been known to go in there and just sit on the side of the tub for a few minutes.  Today was a day of no interruptions...and that was nice.
I soon found myself lost in thought as I was "fixing my face" and hair.  I cleaned the sink and straightened the shelf.  I noticed all the "big girl" stuff that is accumulating in the bathroom.  I saw the new washcloths I purchased.  My mom will be so proud!  After...12...(wow!) years of marriage, it is time to move some of the washcloths to the rag bin.  It's ok to do that...especially if you are trying to encourage your daughters to use "big girl" facial products.  Bright, new washcloths make that new responsibility...fun!  Our children are changing and growing.  It is a good thing!  That is what is supposed to happen.
Change
It hit me again.
Change is a good thing!
As wives and mothers, we are constantly changing things...well, we should be!  Worn out, stained, broken things need to be thrown out!  If something doesn't work...get rid of it!  If it does not serve its intended purpose...it is time to re-evaluate!  Change it! 
We buy new toothbrushes, make-up, jewlry, nail polish, shoes, home decorations, clothing, kitchen gadgets, hobby helps (I just bought pinking shears!), power tools, patio furniture, grill tools, tires, furniture, and hairstyles (also a recent change for me).  If we haven't done any of those things in...say...12 years...shame on us!  With children in the house...change is a constant verb in our language..."Did you change your....?"
Well...it is a very necessary change that must be handled.
There is no virtue in holding on to old, out-dated, broken junk!
There is no virtue to keep doing the same thing over and over with no results! 
It is easy to see that when you look at others...or watch that tv show about hoarding. 
Good grief!  "I'm not like that!" I respond in relief.
Or am I?
Here is another silly illustation that started this whole thought process this morning...
I think about how long I waited to get my hair cut again. 
It was easier when it was longer...throw it up in a clip and I was good to go. 
  As I dried, gelled, and curled my hair...I acknowledged the fact that I didn't want to put the extra effort into fussing with my hair.  I was afraid it would take too long to do. Was that just laziness?  Or was that fear?  Hmmm?!?
Change isn't bad!  It is just different!
I have heard this from many people's mouths over the last couple months.  Honestly, I don't spend that much more time on my hair.  It takes less time to dry and a little more time to curl...if at all.  What was I so concerned about?  How it would affect me and my time!
Isn't it funny how differently we view change?!  It all depends upon what needs to be changed! 
We often don't like change because it will take us out of our comfort zone.  Change shakes up "how things have always been" and makes us think...which makes us actually face the fact that there could be a better way!  In our churches, we count it a virtue to have not changed something for the last 50 years, or 12 years, or even 5 years.  But in our homes...we wouldn't be caught dead with last seasons drapes or shoes. 
I don't understand! 
We won't change the plan of how we do things in our church ministries, but we make sure Mother's Day dinner will be held at Aunt Ethel's this year because Easter was at Uncle Mervin's.  We know that this church to do list or policy covered every needful thing in 1982, but we made sure to rewrite this year's garden plans and our life insurance policy so it is all up to date for our family.
It makes no sense!  (I am not talking about faith and doctrinal change. 
I am talking guardedly about practice or methods change.)
What I am missing!? 
My mind goes back to John 15.  
We should not be eating fruit from 50 years ago...but we should be cultivating the same fields that were planted 50 years ago.  There are new branches to be cared for that they may bring forth fruit.
 There are some really helpful tools that can be used.  Those who care for vineyards and orchards now...have different tools and ways to do the same things that have always been done.
It is 2011...there are some things that are dead, worn out, stained, or broken.
Read Romans 12...ALL OF IT!
How can we "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." if we don't renew our minds?  What type of service is that to God?  God gives us grace.  He gives us the ability to use our minds to think.  He has blessed us with many different members in this body of believers called the church.  He gives us different gifts.  "Not slothful (lazy) in business; fervent (showing great warmth, intensity of spirit, zealous) in spirit; serving (giving aid, assist, help) the Lord;"  How can you do God's work in the right way with something that is dead, worn out, stained, and broken?  What type of testimony is that to others?
If you make changes in your job, home, and personal life...every day, week, month, year...
why would you not do the same in any and every ministry you are involved?  
  I wonder why we view change in some areas of our life acceptable...
and in other areas of life, we treat the very word with disdain...
I was just wondering as I stood at the bathroom sink.

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