Note from Kent. . . . Look at the larger principle here: All of us are confronted with (as most would perceive) the ‘undesirable, yet necessary’ activity that we just as soon NOT DO, but what follows is a pattern where, if we change our perspective, the undesirable can become less disagreeable because the Lord is on our side.
Continuing from a previous post ‘The Holiness of Everyday Life— Work, Joan B. MacDonald wrote:
Spiritual Principles—Practical Solutions
(Illustrated here through common housework. . . .) The first problem was the chronic clutter. The mess was there alright and far too often to suit me. But that is looking at the outward appearance, and we don’t want to do that anymore. Trying to look at clutter with more spiritual eyes taught me two things. First, I tried to understand the nature of clutter itself—what does clutter represent? What things do we regard as clutter? Toys played with and not put away, dirty dishes to be washed, coats not hung up, books read and not put away. Toys, dishes, clothes, books, children, food, warmth, intelligence. Clutter is a by-product of life being lived. Clutter is a mirror reflection of some of our sweetest blessings. Go ahead—look at this mess. Look at this beautiful, wonderful mess. Thank you, Lord. Now let’s tidy up.
The second thing I learned about clutter is what it is not. Unlike spiritual qualities of purity, order, and beauty, clutter is temporal. The word temporal is closely related to another word: temporary. Clutter and dirt are temporary. Order, purity, and beauty are permanent. Always there. Always to be found. Sometimes quite buried but there nonetheless. Pick up and wash, and there they are. They were there all along. As spiritual principles, order, purity, and beauty are not only true, but they are attributes of God himself and of the god-nature within us. As we pick up the clutter, wipe away the dirt, and beautify our homes, we bless our homes and the work becomes a holy work, a work that can feed our spirits and sustain our souls.
Another problem is created when we focus our attention on work (which we may not want to do) and on how time consuming it is, mentally anticipating the completion of tasks that are never really complete! It’s helpful to think of this problem as it is expressed in the work place.~Joan B. MacDonald, The Holiness of Everyday Life (Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 1995), 20-21 (continued) ~Joan B. MacDonald, The Holiness of Everyday Life (Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 1995), 20-21 (continued . . . see ‘The Holiness of Everyday Life III)
