Clean Your Room

Imagine the following conversation:

Parent:  Son (or daughter), it’s time to clean your room.

Child:  Are you sure?  I mean, my room is kind of big and there’s a LOT of stuff in there.  What if I can’t do it?

Parent:  You have everything you need to be able to clean your room.  I believe in  you.  I know you can do it.  If you get into a tough spot, all you have to do is ask.

Child:  Well….um….yeah, but see there’s this thing I need to do first.  I need to clean up all the other rooms in my house so that I can put everything in my bedroom that goes there and THEN I can clean up my room.

Parent:  Don’t worry about those other things.  Just clean your room.  Just cleaning up the mess that’s already there WILL make a difference.  Trust me on this.

Child:  So do I have to go right now?  Or can I do it later?

Parent:  Right now.

Child:  Are you sure I can’t call a friend first?  Maybe have somebody help me?

Parent:  No, this is a job for YOU to do.  I want you to do this on your own.

Child:  Can I have a snack first?

Parent:  No.  I have asked you to do this now, and frankly I expect you to obey.  Immediately.  Without questioning.  Without stalling.

Child:  Ooohhhh…allllllll riiiiiggghhhhttt…if you say so.  I still don’t understand why I can’t have a snack first.  You KNOW this is going to take F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

-an hour later-

Parent: So, did you clean your room?

Child:  Well, I started to.  I really did.  But then I realized I was overwhelmed with where to start, so I decided to spend some time in prayer about it.  You know, seeking direction and trying to discern the best way and the best method to use to clean my room.  So now I think I have an idea of how I’m going to clean my room!

Parent:  So, are you going to clean your room?

Child:  Oh, yeah!  I guess I better get busy, huh?  sheepishly goes back into his or her room

-an hour later-

Parent: So, is your room clean now?

Child:  Well, sort of.  I began to work through the method I felt was the BEST method for cleaning my room and then I remembered that this friend of mine at school read a book about cleaning your room and the importance of having a clean room and I thought I’d ask him about it so I gave him a call and we talked for nearly an HOUR about it.  Sounds like a great book!  I can’t wait to read it!  And the best part is – I KNOW you’ll be so excited about this – we’re going to get a group together to STUDY this book and READ IT TOGETHER!!  I know about 4 other kids whose parents ask them to clean their rooms and so we’re setting up a study group where we can read the book and talk about what we’re learning and how it applies to cleaning our rooms.  Isn’t that GREAT?!?

Parent:  What would be even greater is if you would actually clean your room.

Child:  Well…okay…I guess you’re right.  I just thought you’d be excited about this.

Parent:  I just want you to do what I’ve asked.  And I’ve asked you to clean your room.

Child:  Yeah.  I got that.  returns to room

–the next day-

Parent:  So is your room finally cleaned?

Child:  Almost.  See, when I was cleaning MY room, I thought about all the other dirty rooms in the world and I realized that not everyone has the benefit of the wisdom and insight that I have about cleaning rooms.  I’ve been really burdened with this and I’ve decided that I’m going to take a break from cleaning my room and go over to Johnny’s house for awhile and help him clean HIS room.  And then I’m going to go to Susie’s house and help her clean her room and then I thought I’d really reach out and go to mean old Joey’s house – you know, that kid who is always such a bully? – and help him clean his room.  I’m going to really show love to the unlovable, you know?  Isn’t that a great thing??

Parent:  That’s really admirable, but I didn’t ask you to go to those places.  I want you to clean YOUR room.  THAT is the job I have given you.

Child:  So…you want me to clean my room?

Parent:  Yes, my child.  I want you to obey.  I want you to do the work I have given you.  I want to reward you for your obedience.  I want you to see the blessings of following the plan I have for you.  I want to share the joy of doing something that may be hard for you…and seeing it through to completion.  All of this I want for you…if only you will obey.

Um, sorry folks.  I’m going to have to stop this post now.  It seems I’ve got some work to do.  I’m off to “clean my room”.

With many thanks to Bruce Miller for the initial analogy which has continued to challenge me.