Remember the wonderful routine George Carlin used to do about our “stuff?” It was funny and scary at the same time and forced me to check out what had found its way to the bottom of my purse, tote bag, or kitchen drawer. But, after the laughter, seldom did any of us seriously look for buried “stuff” in our lives.
Last week I complained I didn’t have enough sleeveless tops to get me through the summer. I grumbled a bit and tried to remember what had happened to several all-purpose favorites. And, I was not in the mood to shop and spend money just to solve my wardrobe problems.
Over the weekend I noticed Fred was running out of summer shirts and knew it was time to drag out the dreaded ironing board and the seldom-used appliance called the iron, start a favorite DVD, and get to work. I pulled my ironing basket out from under all the empty laundry baskets and was shocked. I typically toss things in there that need the iron, but avoid follow up as long as I can. What in the world is in this basket? I thought. I pulled Fred’s shirts out one by one and under them was a pile of clothes that had been strangers to our closets for over a year. As I sorted through them I was pleased, but dismayed, to find my old favorites for summer that had me so troubled just days before. I mumbled how thankful I was I hadn’t run to the mall and spent money on new clothes I didn’t need.
You need to get to the bottom of this basket more often I lectured myself and laughed when it occurred to me that a lot of things in life are like that. “Stuff” of life piles up and we only deal with the things at the top. Occasionally it’s time to “get to the bottom of things.”
We treat wounds quickly with band aids without thorough cleansing and appropriate treatment and wonder why it leaves a scar. Harsh words spoken to others and left without apology leave the same marks. We battle with children about eating habits but never take time to hear their opinions of healthy food choices they would eat and enjoy without debate. Marriages “make do” with brief explanations and lame apologies for things done or undone, insufficient time to accomplish what’s expected, individual dreams shattered. Something negative or disagreeable is said during a meeting and decisions fly off the top of the pile, made in an urgency to move on. Unresolved “stuff” gets moved to the bottom of the pile and never addressed again. After people are elected to office, campaign promises are forgotten and dreams delayed. Sadly, when those same people run for office again they are re-elected because no one challenges their neglected “stuff.” On State and National levels bills are passed and laws enacted with “extra stuff” buried that surprises us because we don’t read to the bottom, between the lines, of the bills made available on the Internet and in local newspapers. And what are all the wars about? Why can’t anyone dig to the bottom of the issues and find the historical, contentious “stuff” causing conflicts, or is war on the top of the pile and easier to find?
The fast pace of life drives us to address only items at the top of our piles of responsibility. Broken promises are buried beneath all of the obligations in our lives. Unresolved anger is camouflaged by the happy face we show to the world. Careful attention to detail is abandoned in the urgency to get things done and move on. But to where? Wait a minute!
Isn’t it time to get to the bottom of things? Don’t we all need to make time and check out what “stuff” is buried deep at the bottom of our baskets? How about the overflowing Inbox of our lives? You know the “stuff.” It’s in our homes and marriages; friendships; careers; schools; neighborhoods; churches; local; State and National governments; global tensions and relationships; the economy; our health, and environment.
It’s too late for Spring Cleaning 2011 around the house and the laundry basket is empty. But it’s not too late to clean out the “stuff” at the bottom of our lives.
What do you think? Comments are encouraged!
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