Clean the Sink

Everything was getting to her--illness, the house was a wreck, the dirty clothes pile was overflowing, the animals were "pretend fighting." Everybody needed something from her and she just wanted to curl up and sleep. Then the straw that broke the camel's back came in and her ability to cope was gone. Overwhelmed, overwrought, stressed, and frazzled, the tears began to flow.

She cried her heart out to God. She ranted and screamed for a while. As the volcanic tempest was unleashed the fires abated and the tears slowed. Taking deep calming breaths, she calmed herself and began to quiet deep within herself.

Trying to look at it all logically, she listed all the "things" that were upsetting her. She divided them into groups: circumstances of life, actions/responsibilities of others, and things within her control. Looking at her lists she prayed, asking God to guide her and give her wisdom--and grace--to focus upon what she could do rather than everything at once.

As she looked at her lists and prayed a conversation from many years before came to her mind. She was part of a covenanted group that was working to improve their communication skills. In one of their session, a member going through a horrible divorce and custody battle was overwhelmed with all of the fallout from assuming the entire indebtedness of their marriage.

The soon-to-be ex-spouse was not working and had been on disability leave which left the entire financial burden on this spouse. Having sold the marital home, new living arrangements required deposits. Since the former utilities, etc. had been in the other spouses name, there was no credit history and deposits were needed there. The children needed money to continue school projects and programs as well as to replace clothes and shoes they had outgrown. After a particularly difficult week with everyone having been sick as well, the one bedroom apartment they shared was overwhelming with every dish dirty and stacked in the sink.

Now, in the group, the person broke down. Their group leader listened to everything--the problems, others support, suggestions, questions, ideas, etc. until finally the group turned and asked "what do you think?" The leader looked at them all and casually said "when everything else is out of control, go home and clean the sink."

HUH? Clean the sink? Explain.

She went on to say "when everything in life is out of your hands; you've done all you can do for the day; I find the only think I can control is to clean my sink. It is one place to begin. I stack all the dirty dishes on the counter and clean the sink. Then the next morning, I find a clean sink, so I fill it with soapy water and wash dishes. Then I clean the sink. That way each night when I go to bed I feel like I have accomplished something and am ready to start fresh the next day."

Our lives become overwhelmed--some things we can control and some things we cannot. Our spiritual lives can also become overwhelmed--some things we can control and some things we cannot. Those are the times when we turn to God to help us "clean the sink." Telling God everything is like cleaning the sink--the first step to regaining balance.

God when we are so overwhelmed help us to give it all to you. Show us the one thing that we can control--following you. Teach us to "clean our sink" daily so that we may build upon that bit by bit as we follow your ways and discover the beauty of walking with you through life--even the shadows and valleys. So be it. Amen.