Does the fridge realise it's a spiritual lesson?

So- I have a blog underway (all two posts!) and it feels good- as if somehow I've grown a little, spiritually. My life should reflect that, right? I feel that I should be walking round with an 'air' of that certain something; that my actions will take on a holier nuance, that I should be wrestling with the concepts of Truth and Redemption as I spend important hours putting such thoughts into words......

Fat chance!

Wanna see what I did today?  This........

Yep- I emptied out the fridge and de-gunked it (don't look too closely- it ain't pretty!). I also cleared up some dog poo from the garden but I figured you probably wouldn't want to see a photo of that! Not very glam activities are they? 

As I was kneeling on the kitchen floor, cleaning up the puddles (evidence that our fridge is a bit old and incontinent) I couldn't deny that I wasn't exactly enjoying myself. Then that really annoying thing happened- a bible verse forced its way past my thoughts of what to have for lunch (there wasn't a lot of food left after I ditched a disturbing amount from the fridge) and wondering exactly what the blazes had been in that tub I found at the back of the shelf- and pushed itself to the front where I couldn't ignore it. 

I bet you've already quoted it faster than I can say 'NIV':

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...'  (Colossians 3:23)

Okay, not the first time I've thought of that verse when faced with a grotty job. This time, though, it came hand in hand with two other thoughts- The first was 'This is your frontline, you know'.

A while back our Bible Study group worked through a course called 'Life on the Frontline'. I won't go into all the details here- but will say that it's very good, very accessible and I took a lot away from it. It basically gets you to look at your own life and see the day to day interactions and activities as your 'Frontline'- the place where God can work through you. (You can check out details here  if you like)

'Okay' I thought, 'Got it. This is my 'place' and I'm working for God right now'.

That's when thought number 2 piped up with this:

I nearly derailed the entire thought process by baulking at that 'human masters' bit from Colossians . I mean, I love hubby and offspring to bits but 'human 'masters...?????' 

Usually in moments like this, I get a sense of God gently prodding me and saying 'Just get the point, will you?' and this was no exception.

Kneeling in fridge-pee, I got on with cleaning it out- and doing as thorough and 'hearty' a job of it as I could- because God has given me this place and this family as 'my' place to be worked through (if that makes sense) and because I'd rather cut the delusions of spiritual grandeur and make sure my starting point is right here- with the closest ones at home. 

So- join me in a challenge today. There's a big world of need out there- but right now, if you have family, if you have anyone you share your home with (or neighbours)- start there. Don't let them be forgotten in 'the big picture' - and love them by making sure they won't catch salmonella or botulism from the fridge of doom!

And, we're off.......

I'm going to need you to employ a little imagination here, ok?

You're standing with a bottle of champagne in your hand. Don't get too excited- it's not for drinking. Raise that baby up high and throw it at this page as hard as you can, declaring "I name this blog 'Wearing a Fish'.... Wait- wearing a what?"

Don't ask questions- just get on with it. Jeez, I wouldn't have picked you if I'd known you were going to go all judgmental on me. Just throw the thing....

"I name this blog 'Wearing A Fish. God bless her and all who sail in her, er, read her....whatever"

Cue smashing of bottle against the screen (sorry about that- but, hey, you were daft enought to lob a bottle of bubbly at your computer). And we're off on our maiden post!

By now you've probably got the idea that this isn't going to be some deep academic exploration into theological matters. It's less:
'But, of course, the original Aramaic clearly shows that the use of the plural of 'lion' shows more than one lion was in there!' 
and more:
'These are the voyages of  a very ordinary Christian- her ongoing mission to explore strange new parts of this faith of ours, to seek out new life (any life- signs of life are good) in our Christian community and bodly go where generations have gone before- and hey, d'you want to tag along for the ride????'

Like I said- not deep and academic. Don't get me wrong, I love academic study. I've always enjoyed that aspect of digging deeper into the Bible and I love learning about the historical and cultural background and so on. 'Study to show yourself approved to God' is not a problem for me. I can study the heck out of things!
But the further along I get in my faith, the more I know that all the knowledge in the world doesn't amount to much if it doesn't become 'real'. So- that's my part of the journey....to continue to 'keep it real'; to see God in the every day as well as the big stuff and to live it- not just dissect it!

As my daughter says- 'Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.'
(It's just occurred to me that 'Tomatoes In My Fruit Salad' would have made a cool name for this blog.....).
So, folks, this is me- trying to keep my tomatoes in my salad and out of my custard and inviting you along. Who knows, maybe there'll be something worth taking away from here with you. And if not- then you can help pick me up when I trip face first into the yellow goo! No doubt there'll be some changes as I figure out what I want to put where- and thanks in advance for your patience. You're a wonderful audience- don't forget to tip your waitress....

Oh yeah- that 'God bless her' bit? I mean that. I really mean it. If God's not in it- I don't want to be either. Apply that to what you like, mes amis!

It's been a long waffle- but I can't go without saying thank you to the guys in our 'Huddle' group for getting on my case about starting this blog (look- it's real...I've actually done it!!!). You can make me a cup of tea next week!