Cleaning in the Corners

Cleaning in the corners.

I did some deep cleaning. The kind where you pull out the couch and see what lies beneath. With three boys often it was Nerf bullets, socks, wrappers, and dust bunnies. It was the kind of cleaning that necessitates taking out the "tools" attachment on my vacuum and using my muscles. It was moving the items that had been dusted "around" in the past. Oh, it's subtle at first. Over time the small areas of corners and under things get neglected- because it doesn't seem worth the effort OR it doesn't seen like it matters. But, eventually, it does. The room can even be picked up- appear clean- but I know it's not. It lacks luster. And then, either for show, because I can't stand it anymore, or I finally make time.... I CLEAN... right down to the corners.

Cleaning in the corners takes intention-ality. Effort. Vision beyond that moment.

Recently, I had the privilege to cook at Blue Water Covenant Bible Camp in northern Minnesota with
my mom. For nearly 6 years she has joined me for a week of bonding. Is our spare time we love to find projects in the kitchen. One afternoon while I was re-organizing a storage area, my mom began cleaning the drip pans beneath the burners. As she removed the first, I thought...YUCK! Just put it back... nobody sees it, anyway. "What would it matter?" One could argue.

But she didn't. She wouldn't.

My mother made it shine. It looked brand new. Baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and elbow grease. Patience. Effort. Intention-ality. She did it because she knew it was there.

It reminded me of our character; our integrity--- what we do when no on is watching. Cleaning in the "corners" of our lives. Doing what's right when no one seems to be watching. The Apostle Peter instructs us to:

"make every effort to add to your faith goodness...knowledge... self-control.. perseverance... godliness...mutual affection... love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pe 1:5-8)

Each of those qualities are built in in the tedium of life. They are initiated and practiced in the grind of life. The moments when no one but God sees, or understands why.

“No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character, he has to make character. Nor are we born with habits; we have to form habits.... The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. “Jesus took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” ... Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God.... The tiniest detail in which I obey has all the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I remember hearing a story that told of a beautiful carving of a delicate bird fashioned and built into a crevice of a huge cathedral- totally in a place unseen. When asked why such breath taking work would be put where no one could see it, the response... "Well, God sees it."

Living lives of integrity and character are works of art often like that hidden carving, or labors of love like those drip pans- whittled and working us into the character of Christ. We make every effort because...
well... God sees it.