Fingerprints

As we are cleaning today I have found our grandson's fingerprints on our pictures, computer screen and various items in interesting places. I am reluctant to dust and rearrange because it is proof he has not only been here but enjoyed himself thoroughly.  The wooden Nativity from Christmas is still out and he has enjoyed that immensely. The Shepherd's staff is now broken but that is more realistic. Shepherds had a tough life - their staff's were probably a little worn.

I realized today, many people clean and arrange too much (I am not advocating we live in a hovel). Our homes need to look lived in and like they are places to relax, live, and share life. When did we decide to have designer homes that serve more as a museum of our tastes, not as comfortable dwelling places. We dust, decorate, and rearrange too much. It transfers over into our personal lives. We face lift, get beauty treatments, try wrinkle creams and a various assortment of other things. In advertising, they airbrush, crop and arrange so everything is beautiful and perfect.

Are we afraid of dust? Wrinkles? A bowl or dish out of place? A broken Shepherd's staff? What is it that we are really afraid of? We are afraid of chaos and we are afraid of life. Chaos is not to be feared; it is the place God hovers over most. Order and perfection does not come by our attempts to recreate Eden. Order comes because God hovers over our chaos and speaks life into our midst.

The Psalmist declares, "When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, Yahweh is rock-firm and faithful...I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is!" I say let's let our skin sag and the dust collect and just find out how refreshing life is in the presence of God. Go to a department store today and stand in front of the cosmetic counter and shout, "Hallelujah, my skin is sagging!" Go out afterward for coffee and a treat. If anyone asks what you are doing, simply say, "Just enjoying the day so some more dust can settle in my house." And if they ask, "Are you serious?" You reply, "Yes, It seems God does his best work with dust."

Enjoy the fingerprints, a book left out, a broken Shepherd's staff, a glass on the counter they are reminders that life happens and God declared that is good.