One Size Fits All?

We’re all quite familiar with this phrase (women especially) and some of us might actually believe it. Not me! No matter what size I tend to be in any “season” of life, I find “one size fits all” garments to be seriously lacking in ability to do the “clothing” job properly. Too big here, too small there, too short, too long…I haven’t a clue what some designers have in mind when making these garments. However, the “one size fits all” attempt makes me think of something else that needs the right sized “equipment” for the “job.”

In this case, our “equipment” is brooms. Yes the varied sizes, shapes, construct of implements that allow us to sweep away debris. Little piles of “junk”, small broom. Larger pile of “junk”, bigger broom. Get the picture?

If not, here’s one to help you out:

Brooms come in all sizes, styles and even shapes. Americans are very familiar with one of the smallest brooms – a whisk broom . These are used by Umpires at our professional baseball games to keep Home Plate clean so the calls of “STRIKE!” “BALL!” “OUT! or SAFE!” are easier to make. It is sometimes laughable to see a hulking, big man attired in safety gear wielding an itty-bitty broom to do such an important job. However, the pile of “junk” at Home Plate is only dust and dirt.

(An aside here: I once gave Esther a tiny, battery-powered man who marched around her dining table sweeping crumbs into a wee dust pan. ADORABLE!)

Industrial brooms however, now that’s a whole different subject. Wide, broad, sturdily handled, these babies are made to move “mountains” of “stuff!”

Where am I going with this you ask? Well, I know I’m often in need of a broom – and not just for cleaning the house where I physically live. I’m talking about needing a broom for cleaning the house where I spiritually live.

Scripture tells us that God is our firm foundation; that our feet are firmly planted on the rock of our confession of faith in Christ Jesus. Don’t know about you, but I have to remind myself of that ROCK foundation quite often; especially when “winds and rain” blow and all sort of debris piles up at my feet obscuring my vision of the ROCK.

Sometimes it’s just a film of dust that has lingered too long (after all dust doesn’t mold or anything…it can be ignored longer than other types of debris.) A whisk broom will do!

If I spill the contents of a box of cereal or pasta on the floor at my feet, I grab a dustpan and brush.

Other times it’s some leaves and twigs that a squall deposited along the walkway to our home. A regular broom does the job quickly.

Left untouched, unnoticed and/or ignored, the pile of debris can quickly grow and an industrial sized broom is required. Truthfully, sometime it’s the “stuff” that others bring into our lives/homes that pile around us and limit our vision.

So, whatever has caused the debris of our life to pile up around our feet, let’s keep our foundation in clear sight. Let’s be ready to pull out our arsenal of brooms and sweep it all away so we never loose sight of Jesus – our ROCK!

Mary

For a little “sweeping” music…

“On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand…” Edward Mote Lyrics, “…On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

“Jesus, you’re my firm foundation…” Don Moen Lyrics, “Jesus, you’re my firm foundation. You’re the rock of my salvation.”