Sense of Order: Cultivating Contentment
(means: home life or devotion to it) and spirituality
are invisibly
but inexorably
(means: can not be influenced by persuasion, can not be altered) connected- one a golden thread, one a silver filament-
which, when woven together, create a tapestry of contentment. The
Shakers, a religious communal sect that flourished in America during the mid-nineteenth century, invoked a prayer each morning
for the grace that would enable them to express their love of God
through their daily tasks- tasks as simple and mundane as making a bed.
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by outside circumstances-
worries about money, concern over a sick family member,
or anxiety over prolonged business negotiations-
instinctively I turn to homegrown rituals to restore my equilibrium.
There is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff
to getting our houses in order.
We might not be able to control
what’s happening externally in our lives but we can learn
to look to our own inner resources for a sense of comfort
that nurtures and sustains.
I have even noticed that there is a direct correlation
between the days when I’m feeling depressed
and the days when the house is in disarray.
I suspect that I’m not alone.
“It’s not the tragedies that kill us,”
Dorothy Parker once observed,”it’s the messes.”
If you feel constantly adrift but don’t know why,
be willing to explore the role that order- or the lack of it-
plays in your life. No woman can think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter,
chaos, and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it.
Begin to think of order not as a straight-jacket of “shoulds”
(make the bed, wash the dishes, take out the garbage)
but as a shape- the foundation- for the beautiful new life you are creating.
It may be as simple as putting something back that you take out,
hanging something up that you take off,
or teaching those who live with you that they must do the same
for the common good of all.
There is a Divine Order- a Sublime Order- inherent in the universe.
We can tap into this powerful source of creative energy when we are willing to gradually cultivate a sense of order as to how we conduct our daily affairs.
Invite Divine Order into your life today and a more serene tomorrow will unfold.’ –
Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comofort and Joy
