Uneven Load

I’m going to level with you and own up to a fault. Maybe not a fault, but more of a personal vendetta against laundry piles.

I equate the vendetta of the laundry pile to the one of getting groceries unloaded in one trip with approximately thirty sacks laced up your arms to the point of not even making it through the door frame without turning sideways. Slight numbness in the forearm is a small price to pay for the internal badge of one trip challenge champion.

The other day, determined to get what I needed washed accomplished in one load, I loaded the washer. Admittedly, to the hilt.

Long before the load should’ve been finished, I stopped hearing the washer run. I rounded the corner to see a cease and desist code flashing on its screen. ‘UE’. Uneven load.

I reached in and jostled all contents around a little bit. I took nothing out. Relent and let the washer win? Gargantuan load 2.0 began its second try.

I felt validated in my train of thought that if things could be shifted a little while maintaining the weight of the original load, it’d be fine.

Silence drew me back to the laundry room a brief interlude later. Same code. Uneven load. Shockingly, without balance, it will shut down every time.

I live like that sometimes. Too much crammed into one day or week or season. And my body reacts with its own version of ‘UE’. Warning signs blink like flashing lights in my peripheral, but they often remain ignored. Extreme exhaustion. Decreased clarity of thought. Increased emotions.

My body reaches uneven load status. Jostling the contents won’t do. I have to evaluate what truly merits value in the load and what can be put aside for another day or week or season.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14, NIV)

Saying no to ungodliness encompasses saying no to my vendettas of completion. Those desires aren’t bad in their own right, but when I reach unbalanced status, I’m no longer living self-controlled and upright in this present age. They’re controlling me.

The Greek word sophron means of sound mind. Sound thinking. Self-controlled. Over the years, I’ve referred to this list by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth that is adapted from her book Adorned.

Click to access areyousophron.pdf

It provides a reference for living well under the governance of the Spirit’s control rather than flesh in attitude, emotions, tongue, and behavior. A quick glance helps me see where I’m at. It helps me be specific in prayer for the Spirit’s help in areas where I’m at ‘UE’ status in need of sophron redirection.

Without balance, I will shut down every time. And if I’m shut down, I’m not able to reach completion anyway.

Father God, thank You for Your unwavering love and patience. Thank You that in the midst of humanity, the fullness of Your provision is awaiting us through fellowship with You and complete guidance through Your Holy Spirit. Father, help us to surrender our loads to You and trust You with the timelines of completion and priorities. Help us be sophron. Amen

Wolgumuth, Nancy DeMoss. Are You Sophron? | 2 – df6yevl24pl4a.Cloudfront.net. https://df6yevl24pl4a.cloudfront.net/filer_public/2a/7e/2a7e9c31-9e78-4dbd-aaff-f191ed1861f7/areyousophron.pdf.