Day 32: A big mess

Andrew is sitting on an obnoxiously huge pile of laundry. My house, more often than not, looks like a tornado has just hit, literally. Eddie likes to use chairs to get up on things so they are often in random places. Clothes stay where they come up -- and for kids that includes living rooms, hallways, where ever I can make it happen.

When it comes to the house, I have a stress meter that raises my blood pressure for each thing out of place. I might seem very laid back, but underneath it I am incredibly type A and even stress about things being out of place that are well out of site in drawers or closets. For me, there is a true peace that comes when my environment is organized.

Our surroundings do a lot to define our state of mind. If you don't believe me go to Michigan in late April, when it's snowing, and see how quickly people snap. Then go back again, two days later when the weather decides to suddenly change and it's 65 degrees out. People are hanging out in tank tops, a stranger will buy you a beer. You would think that the entire state had just won the lottery.

Finding God and the deep sense of peace that comes with faith starts with putting yourself into the right environment. Removing things that deaden your spiritual senses and replacing them with reminders of a life filled with love and light. Lent for me is always a time to refill my space and my calendar with God, and funny, God always seems to show up.