messy or clean?

"And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light."*

I like to keep the blinds down in my room, not because I have Heliophobia (fear of the sun) or Augophobia (fear of bright lights, glare, sunlight) or any other phobia. No, indeed, I keep my room relatively dark so that I don't have to worry about the mess I make.

The problem with opening my blinds (or letting my mother in :p ) and letting the light in, is I have to acknowledge there is a mess. Mess is not useful, hygienic, beautiful, comfortable or productive. Often by the time I notice, it has built up to the point there is only a clear path from my door to my bed (any teenager would get that, right?). It is only once I truly see it, that I have a chance of fixing it. Often, cleaning up is a task which takes me days! Because if you're going to do it, might as well do it properly! Why am I talking about this now?? Because, I have to tidy up!!!

As I prepare to leave home for a 6 month trip to Europe I realise that my room should look better than it does... my true nature is revealed in that mess, I am lazy! and I'm ashamed of that, as deep down, I like tidy rooms; they're fresh and orderly.

Unfortunately like my room, my life is messy. And so often I keep my eyes averted, my blinds down -so to speak. I am selfish, lazy, impatient, rude ...the list goes on. The truth is, even if I don't acknowledge it, those negative qualities still exist in my life. And by not attending to them they can be damaging to myself, my friendships, and my relationship with God. But they're not permanent traits to my character, these things can change. Until I acknowledge to myself, others, and especially God, that there are some things in my life that need fixing, why would I bother to clean it all up? It's fine the way it is... isn't it? Just avoid that corner, walk over the mess, ignore the desk... well, moving -or any other change or trial- can force us to acknowledge mess, in rooms and life.

There is a passage in the Bible that I find challenging but true (the 'I', is you and me; the 'you', is God)
"I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you."**

Whether or not my room is bright, it's still often messy. Whether or not I acknowledge the mess it my life, God can still see it and He cares enough to want to help make it tidy.

As I allow God into rooms in my life, to see the ugly mess that is there, He is great because he helps me tidy up. Not only that... "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."*** -He gets rid of the mess completely!!!

*Ephesians 5:13-14
**Psalm 139:11-12

*** Psalm 103:12