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!