My Ignorer Wore Out (10/25/205)

Have you ever known something needed to be addressed and put it off? Have you ever ignored something that needed your attention? I have. I try not to, but at times I do. I’ve found that my “ignorer” is actually quite strong. But yesterday morning, as I came in from my morning coffee and conversation with my LORD, it hit me.  As I walked into my office, the crazy scene atop the day bed screamed louder than my ignorer could muffle out, “Girl, you gotta do something about that!”

The past 10 days have been exceptionally blessed but also extremely hectic. I worked on the parish Cookie Walk for days, then spoke at the parish Women’s Morning of Reflection. Then Monday I facilitated Scripture Study and cooked a casserole for the group, Tuesday I facilitated the parish grief support group, Wednesday I had faith formation for the confirmation students and their parents, and Thursday I had medical appointments and a freeze warning that meant all plans were benched while I brought in my outdoor plants.

But yesterday morning, I got up, went out for my constitutional wake up with the LORD with coffee. And after an hour of conversation, reflection, and prayer, I came in to write my blog. The mess on top of my daybed could no longer be ignored. My ignorer had worn out. I had a bag for every activity, notebooks with resources, bags of goodies for each. It was time to sort, clean out, and stow where they belong. And that’s what I did all day yesterday.  

I’d like to tell you that this is an anomaly, but that isn’t true. I usually keep a pretty clean home, well organized, with a place for everything. But that is not the same as saying that everything is always in its place. And if I were totally honest, I’d have to admit that my ability to ignore the obvious that I don’t want to address extends to other areas of my life like use of time or behavior that I need to correct.

Yesterday, as I got everything organized into its appropriate bag and stowed in its designated place, I promised myself I would do better about addressing things right away or at least the very next day. This wasn’t the only time I’d ever ignored the obvious, but it was one of my most obvious feats of ignoring.

Ignoring things we don’t want to address is a pretty human reaction. Some of our ignoring feats are more noticeable to others when they involve tangible objects as was the case of my bag dump on the daybed. But other ignoring feats are harder to detect, especially those that involve how well we are living Christ day to day. But just because they aren’t as obvious to others doesn’t mean we don’t know they are there.

As we begin our weekend, let us do so with a desire to shut down our “ignorers” that allow us to postpone addressing the things in our life that need some attention, some elbow grease, some energy and some prayerful reflection. Jesus often spoke of the certainty of His presence and love but also of the uncertainty of our time. Let us use our time at hand well to grow closer to Christ daily. If we know of something we should address, let us do it today; let’s not wait until Lent.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.