The dry erase board

I am a organizational nut. I am one of those people that, while my house is almost never clean anymore, I have a designated place and spot for everything under the sun. And most likely, it is labeled.

I like order, and while I do not mind change, I like to be able to sit and fully plan something and have the change completely ordered in my mind and most likely also in list format, before it happens. So, not unlike many other organizational freaks I have a central family calendar, which allows us to see what is happening for he entire month for everyone. This dry erase board lets me color code for different people and change appointments with ease. It allows everyone in the family equal access to the plan for the day and gives me great comfort as we all check in with our day before we head off.

I love the month change, for the same reason I love New Years. I get out my daytimer and write on there everything that is coming up for the new month. I know I am a dork.

One thing I do not do is leave up the days past. So if there are 2 days left in the month only 2 days are on the calender. Every night I walk into the kitchen and as I set our house alarm and turn off the downstairs lights I reach over and with my bare finger I erase the day. I have done this every single day for the past 5 years since I have had this same board. Hey, few things have that kind of longevity, but when you find something that works you gotta stick with it.

For some reason last night it seemed as though I was erasing in slow motion. It was after midnight and the dim light of the kitchen made my finger seem to more in slow motion with almost a sort of comet trail essence. I stopped for a minute reflecting on the day. So many things about this day had been so good. But my heart has been in a bad place lately. I have been struggling with many challenges and I have been spiritual withdrawn and frankly exhausted.

Another day...I thought...Another day-Gone!

I know for a fact that I did absolutely nothing today to glorify God and this day has just been wiped away, never to return.

I know, it is all a little depressing sounding. But what hit me was the symbolism behind my action.

My plans, my calender, my day, my finger...all of the things about that day and unfortunately, so many days, were about me. And it was my finger that wiped that day away. This day was truly gone and it was fruitless. By my own hand I planned the day, wrote it out and then wiped away any possibility for God to use me. Not everyday is fruitless...some days I am better than my typical self and hopefully God is able to do something with me, but for the most part there is little room on that calender for Gods plans.

I wonder what would happen if I actually wrote "God's work" on my dry erase calender. I wonder if I would be more likely to check in with Him and serve for Him. I wonder if I might leave a day or week or maybe just one hour to spend looking for the person who God knew needed some Christ tangibly right before them. I wonder how hard it would be to erase God off my calender knowing I didn't even try to do His work.

Some great amazing people showed up at my door today. I had my hair wrapped in a turban as I had just gotten out of the shower and my house was a complete disaster. No kidding- you can ask them. Total disaster!

They knew I had been having a tough time and they showed up for me. And they brought me a sandwich...a really yummy sandwich. I was in no way hospitable. I mean I was glad to see them and deeply touched by their gift of time to me.

But I realized after they left I never even offered them a drink or a chair. But they didn't care...they immediately went right about the business of loving me and nurturing me. They over looked my mess and did not ask for a thing while they were here. They came only to show me Christ today.

They knew I had a need and while they may not be able to change the situation, their act of friendship was able to start changing my perspective of where God was in the situation. Don't I have amazing friends! Their visit not only changed the course for my day, but actually changed my heart. Struggles are still there, but my three little adorable Christ look alikes standing in my doorway with their yummy ten foot long sandwich has been the image in my mind all day, rather than the emptiness that was there before.

I hope that tomorrow I can do that intentionally for someone else. I think I should write it in!

Sweet Blessings,
Laurie