The Natural Order

 

Have you seen those signs that say “A messy desk is a sign of genius”? I have not done the research, but I’m willing to accept that statement as truth. I guess people who have a lot going on tend to move from one task to another, prioritizing work over straightening up. Certainly we all have different tolerance levels for messiness. My stacks of paper used to make my college roommate crazy, but we both accomplished what we needed to for our classes. So if you won’t judge me for my stacks of books and papers, I’ll try not to judge you for your clothes lying about. J

But there’s another kind of orderliness I want to think about this week. I’ve been meditating on Psalm 104 this month, and among the many beautiful and inspirations aspects of this passage of scripture, I keep coming back to the patterns and order that God built into the world.

Have a look at verses 19-23.

 He appointed the moon for seasons;
The sun knows its going down.
²⁰ You make darkness, and it is night,
In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
²¹ The young lions roar after their prey,
And seek their food from God.
²² When the sun rises, they gather together
And lie down in their dens.
²³ Man goes out to his work
And to his labor until the evening.

God made the world to work in predictable ways. Seasons follow one another in the same order year after year—and we’re due for a season change this very week! The moon gradually changes from new to full and back again month after month. This is the way the world works. And it seems pretty clear to me that people are healthier when they work with the natural order that God  created. I know that some jobs require folks to sleep during the day or to work uneven shifts, and I’m ever so grateful for those people who keep watch while the rest of us sleep. When possible, though, we should try to maintain some kind of routine. This is how God made us.

Especially with children, I have noticed that routines provide security and stability. Children like to know what to expect, even when they aren’t old enough to recognize that need in their lives. So I want to encourage mothers of young children to keep serving up regular meals, insisting on rest time, and encouraging routines. You and your little ones will be happier for it.

For those of us who are older, what can we learn? Get up at a good time, eat regular meals, go to bed at a reasonable hour. (Wow, it’s about the same as for the little kids!) Life may seem a little boring at times, so maybe we can mix it up now and then, but it has been my experience—and I think we can support the notion with scripture—that a life of orderliness is a healthy and happy life.

You have my permission to ask me how I’m doing getting to bed at a reasonable hour. That’s my struggle.

I hope you have a great week. Happy Equinox!

--Sherry Poff