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Clutter

Recently there has been a couple of construction projects going on at and around the barn here at the Ranch. Along with any construction project there always comes an inordinate accumulation of not only scrap wood and discarded plastic, but as always empty water bottles, cans, and various food and snack wrappers. It seems to be a necessary evil of any building project. So what’s the problem, you ask?

Well, anyone that knows me knows that I’m somewhat of a control freak and I like things neat and in order. I love everything in its place. Even at the barn I like all my barn stuff tidy and in its place. It makes life easier, especially when I’m dealing with multiple adolescent boys. It’s one of my barn rules. Put everything where you got it! So as the clutter accumulates so has my frustration level. I know all that stuff is a common by-product and that the end result will be these much needed new structures, but in the meantime even moving the horses from place to place means stepping over piles of wood. Sometimes I can’t get gates open or shut, and the place looks just plain messy. Clutter, its annoying, gets in the way, and is unsightly.


Over the past few weeks as I have had to work around this clutter, it dawned on me that sometimes my life must be to God much like how I feel about this mess at the barn. Cluttered. God must get so tired of trying to get to me through all the “stuff”. How many times has he had to sidestep over trash in my life? How often does he try to get to me only to be blocked by an accumulation of junk in my life? How often does sin block the way? How many times do I fail to hear his voice because of the clutter in my life?


In this world we live in the accumulation of stuff is the norm. Multi-taskers are lauded. People try in vain to keep up with impossible schedules using the latest high-tech gadgets. Sin weighs us down. Junk. Stuff. Clutter. Where in all this does Jesus fit in? It takes constant vigilance to guard against the piling up of not only the material, but the emotional junk that can hinder our relationship with Him. We want to make sure that our lives don’t get trashed and so cluttered that we miss his plan for us. We must be on guard that we are not weighed down and hindered from walking close to Him.


Beware the clutter!


Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


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