In The Recesses of the Bottom of the Box

It is time to DIG DEEP. 

" I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.  It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well " (Luke 6:47-48 NLT)

Websters defines "dig" as "to turn up or remove..." and "deep" as "extending far downward, inward, or backward".  What if we really dug deep and removed the shifting places, replacing the truth of Christ there for us to stand on. 

Cleaning out closets can be a daunting task.  Funny how the same theme rolls over and over in our lives until we get it.  I actually had started both this blog and the task of closet cleaning several months ago.  I set both aside without completion. 

While visiting with my mother this past weekend, I picked up a home magazine.  The feature article was about closet cleaning, when you know you are ready to do it, getting started, how to do it, perseverance to complete it, the need to resist filling it up once it is cleared out, and so on.  The author had several good points; so much so, that I  read several excerpts to my husband and mother. 

Upon returning home, both David and I had renewed determination to "clean out closets" and get our home in order (organization of our stuff is not our strong suit).  We began talking about it and tossing a few items.  I took a 'break' to blog and was amazed to run across this draft.  It was the re-occurring theme that it is time to get rid of the 'junk'. 

I looked up the meaning of "recess" and found it ironic that it defines it both as "a hollow place" and "a temporary halting of work". If we do not dig deep and remove the recesses of our lives, we create a recess to the work that is being done within us. The building of our house is put on stalemate. I want the building work within me and around me to continue with vigor.


Although we want to hold on to stuff and even emotions we are familiar with, it is time to ask ourselves if we really benefit from these.  When I dig in my heels to make a point to my husband, am I really benefiting from the conflict in the moment.  Did he really hear me when he sensed my aggravated state?  Probably not.  We can state our case and make peace at the same time.  Sadly, I was not so successful at this task on our recent vacation.  Lesson learned.  I will cling to peace in the days ahead.

Today is a day to ponder what is really important in life: family and sustenance and the love of Christ.  Tomorrow I will clean out closets, and I really mean that.  What would life be like with a more ordered and less cluttered environment of both our homes, our work, our hearts?  Share your secrets with the rest of us.