"You got some splainin' to do"

Last night, while my DH attended night class, I plunked down and created a blog. There were dishes piled high in the sink and laundry still sitting in a basket from (gulp...) Friday. Yet I still felt drawn to the computer, like a moth to a flame.

My DH returned from class and I showed him my creation. He looked at it, raised an eyebrow cautiously and said, "Did you mean to not capitalize the 'f' in 'first'?" He is very hesitant to correct my spelling and grammar, because not only am I a particularly sensitive pregnant lady, I also work as a professional editor. To correct me might somehow suggest I was failing at my job.

"Yes, of course, dear. It's Last Things first." I smiled proudly.

He blinked.

"You know, Last Things?" I could hardly believe I was explaining this to my DH who hopes to embark on an M.A. in Theology very soon.

His eyes lit up. He then quickly suggested I inform my readers in my next post what I was getting at.

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The title of this blog actually came into my mind when I was engaged (although back then I wasn't planning on creating a blog by this or any name). I was walking home one night, feeling overwhelmed by the mess, the clutter and the chaos I had lately generated that I was about to face. I told myself, "Calm down, Jenna. First things first."

But what exactly are the first things one is to do when just about everything is in disorder?

So I wasn't exactly consoled by my little internal pep talk until I was suddenly struck by the notion of Last Things. Ordering my little menial household tasks seems like a tall order for a veteran slob. Doing them, however, with a view towards my final end seemed so much more satisfying.

Contemplating Death, Judgment and Purgatory might not seem like the most cheery of motivators to get me doing most anything... but it helps to temper this thought with a reflection on heaven, too (and not just the belief I dearly cling to, that there will be no dishes or laundry to wash when I get there); each act of love I perform now can bring me closer to this beautiful place I was created for.

So I find it only slightly ironic that I used the creation of my blog to escape those same duties I am referring to here. In fact, writing this may just be enough inspiration for me to put the laptop down and bring some beauty (and order!) into our domestic Church.