Organized mess

I once heard a speaker who teaches appearance and grooming address a roomful of women comprising executive assistants of big companies and organizations. She says: “You need to file things properly and orderly.” And there I was in the room quietly, waiting for my turn to speak after her, thinking, “You should see my desk and my files. They are extremely messy.” My working table is a mess, yet I know where my files are located, and if somebody comes to clean it up, it upsets me. And midway through her presentation, she said, “A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.” Boy, that got me thinking. And I remembered a comedian saying, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, I wonder what an empty desk is a sign of?”

A fantastic and mysterious law is at work. When you have a space, stuff and things creep up and occupy the space. There are times when you have a hard time finding things, and sometimes you trip over them. Life can look like my desk and dining table; daily demands pile up, and you can’t seem to tidy up the clutter. But through the clutter, we function, and we create things. This can be called an “Organized Mess.”

I come across a verse of the Scriptures that says: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but abundant harvests come from the strength of an ox.” (Proverbs 14:4, NIV:)

Today, I no longer complain about the mess. I am thankful because a messy table and a messy place mean a lot of work for me and keep me productive, fulfilled, and happy.

Looking back, life has always been about “Managing Chaos.”

My professional career in the garments industry had me start with occupying one of the lowest positions of the corporate food chain; there were messes I had to deal with. Today as I look back, I am thankful for the lessons I learned. From inspiring and gracious bosses to egoistic jerks who cared only about themselves, I have learned lessons on what leadership is all about.

It is not that I dislike order and tidiness. I desire to have a very organized home. My dream and wish are that one day I can attain a “minimalist look” in my home and workplace, wherein everything is organized and kept in order. Instead of being obsessed with order and complaining, I look at the environment, sigh in relief, and give thanks. All this “mess” means there is movement and work on my part.

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” Keeping farm animals can get messy, but I also know that a farmer relies on those animals for his living. Therefore, cleaning up after them may only bother him a little.

Doing business and handling people will always be messy. The world economy and geopolitical state are in a precarious situation. There may be more messes we will have to face, but we can complain about the mess daily with anxiety, worry, and fear of what the future may bring. But I do not think it will help. I would instead remind myself that the mess to come offers new lessons for me to learn and opportunities for me to exploit and explore as a person who has gone through many messes before.

Oh yes, I am preparing myself and strategizing on what I need to do to prepare for the challenges the future may bring, but my disposition is anchored on hope and thankfulness. Perhaps this is why the Scriptures both remind and admonish us that in all things, we should give thanks and present our supplications to God. And this way, He provides us with a peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ Jesus, who Himself says, “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

Anyways, the old say without tests then, there would be no testimonies. Without mess, there can be no message. Manage the chaos with a healthy disposition and thankful heart. The new year brings promises and opportunities. I believe this is the case. But the new year can also bring us situations that can be messy. Thank God for His blessings in all the good things we shall have. And in all the possible mess we may encounter, thank Him for giving us the privilege to go through it and learn from it. Either way – Give Thanks!

A Blessed New Year to everyone.