Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

My office is in a dormer portion of a large upstairs room.  The more significant part and its closets are the ‘hodgepodge’ of our house, a term I use to describe the space where all things unwelcome elsewhere go, creating a unique and eclectic collection.

“Lynn, where do you want me to put this box of July 4th decorations?”  My husband asks as he walks up the stairs.  “Oh, just put it in my office until I can find a place,” I respond.  That box still stares at me as it rests on the floor without a home, but I will eventually find its proper place.

How we handle the disarray in our lives is essential to finding our unique purpose and place in the world.

The funny thing about clutter, hodgepodges, and uncertainty is they do provide meaning, inspiration, and growth.  If every area in our lives was in perfect order, how could we improve it?  Why would we try?

Our personal belongings, each with their own story and significance, are not just reminders of our journey but also sources of inspiration that motivate us to strive for improvement.

My office is a sanctuary where the assorted items surrounding me provide constant comfort and motivation.  The slightly tilted photographs on the office wall, a tin lid on a bookshelf, a cartoon strip taped to the back of a door, a cross on my desk, or the clock whose hands no longer sweep by – each item has a story to tell and a lesson to impart.

Of course, the photographs are of my friends and family.  How many columns and chapters do I write about the folks around me?  We all have countless memories and stories about those closest to us.  They provide the love in our lives, the tears, the laughter, and the motivation to move us to the next day.  We can survive being alone, but loneliness is hard to live with.  Thank God we are blessed with each other.

An old lid off Walker’s Pure Shortbread Cookies is behind my desk at the back of the bookshelf.  The red scotch plaid surrounds the old bent top of the cookie tin that Mom had in her possessions.   The priceless items left to me remind me daily of my heritage.  These are not just objects but a part of my family’s story.

I recall the courage and convictions my ancestors possessed.  The Walker family trekked to America from Scotland over 300 years ago, along with other family members who did the same from all corners of the globe.  If we are unaware of our history, how do we understand and appreciate the sacrifices of those who paved the way for us to walk?

Amidst the somber headlines of the day, cartoons provide a much-needed break with their humor and light-heartedness.  Garfield and his buddies in the newspaper’s comics start my day with a chuckle and often provide wise counsel from characters like Snoopy, Curtis, or Billy.  And when they do, I hang the strip on my door to remind me to smile.  A sense of humor is God’s gift to lift us when our world’s gravity is too heavy to bear.

That crazy clock is never going to work.  Its seconds have run out, and the chime is now silent.  However, I keep it because it encourages me to use every moment to continue to run.

The clock serves as a reminder of the importance of time.  When I was young, time wasn’t necessarily important, but my minutes became vital as the hours turned into years.  I am not sure one can teach another about the importance of the clock, but as I tell my granddaughter, “Trust me, don’t waste moments!” Every second we squander is neglecting our duty to serve others.

Dear Lord, I am grateful for the cross and your presence amid my life’s hodgepodges.  You have rescued me from countless difficult situations and messes more times than I can count.  It’s true that without faith, we are simply going through the motions and minutia of life, searching for what is missing.

The essence of life is not what surrounds us; it is what resides within us.  Our loves, our times, our laughter, and our heritage are all provided by a God who wants us to find our purpose amid life’s disarray.

Whether we live in mansions, tents, or any shelter in between, we all have items to remind us to keep searching for a narrative that defines our significance in a hodgepodge, cluttered world.