“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” – Revelation 3:20

This morning’s post is low key and invitational (I guess this blog is always an invitation, into my thinking processes and my soul…). I thought I would introduce you all to the space where I do most of my writing. Or at least, now that my study has been partially rehabilitated, mess-wise.

By “mess” I mean the overload of paper and books and notes and bills and correspondence on top of my desk, the mountain of books and general note-taking debris plus some music all over the floor, bookshelves spilling over, closet not quite shutting, grandchild paraphernalia, and various hard-to-categorize disorganization pretty much everywhere.

I’m not sure how I managed to get into such a state but there I was, slowly losing touch with my study. How could I expect to make progress on some of my book-length projects if I couldn’t find the surface of my desk?

So it took doing my taxes (at the last-minute, of course) to get the piles started, and after that it was a matter of keeping the ball rolling. Next up will be literally hauling everything out and starting over from scratch with a design plan that helps me be more efficient. I promise to document that process when it happens.

What is my point? My point is that I am called to a writing ministry where prayer, meditation, and contemplation are a necessary part of the process. Otherwise I am simply tooting my own horn rather than sharing the good news of the Gospel of light and love.

A welcome space for God?

My inner being operates according to some of the same principles; when there is too much clutter, distraction, overt busyness, excessive messiness, or simply an overwhelm of triviality – it all contributes to an unfocused center and an environment ill suited to engage with Creator God.

I’m not saying that my personal study space kept God at arm’s length, but I am saying that my my soul, my spiritual center, often looks a lot like my office, and that I find it helpful to imagine the environment I am inviting God into and to – thoughtfully – prepare a space where The Divine Presence does not feel like an afterthought.

“I’d have you hang out with me, and talk over coffee or a meal Lord,” I say, “but as you can see there’s really nowhere to sit down and visit.”

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” – Revelation 3:20

Peace y’all. I’ll “see” you in church. Rebekah is preaching on hope!

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