To be clear, the "r" in the title is silent.
Where I live, the snow is melting, revealing a grim reality: an abundance of fecal matter left behind by dog walkers who chose not to pick up after their pets. It’s a vivid metaphor for life, isn’t it? We all have our messes—those parts of ourselves we’d rather keep buried underneath pristine snow. But as the seasons change, as life heats up, those hidden messes inevitably rise to the surface.
And when they do, the "shi(r)t" starts to show—whether it’s in moments of jealousy, pride, or resentment that sneak into our relationships and interactions. These emotional messes don’t stay hidden forever; they have a way of revealing themselves at the worst possible times, often to the detriment of those around us.
The Mess Beneath the Surface
As humans, we’re messy by design. God created us with emotions, instincts, and imperfections—natural functions that are part of our humanity. But just because something is natural doesn’t mean it should be left unchecked. Much like we train ourselves to meet societal expectations (like picking up after our pets), we have the power to manage our emotional messes so they don’t harm others or ourselves.
When we suppress or ignore these messy parts of our lives, they don’t disappear; they fester. And eventually—whether through a heated argument, a passive-aggressive remark, or a moment of weakness—the "shi(r)t" starts to show. The unacknowledged jealousy over a colleague’s success might turn into snide comments. The pride that keeps us from admitting fault on a work project might erode trust in our relationships. These emotional messes can create environments where others feel burdened by what we refuse to own.
Cleaning Up After Others
Sometimes, though, we’re not dealing with our own mess—we’re dealing with someone else’s. Whether it’s a colleague who avoids responsibility or a loved one who projects their pain onto you, cleaning up after others can feel exhausting and unfair. Here are a few ways to manage this without losing your own peace:
Set Boundaries: Just because someone else leaves a mess doesn’t mean you’re obligated to clean it up entirely on your own. Communicate what you’re willing to do and what you’re not.
Practice Compassion: Remember, everyone has their own struggles. While it’s not your job to fix them, understanding where someone’s behavior comes from can make the cleanup feel less personal.
Take Care of Your Space: Focus on keeping your own emotional environment as clean as possible—through prayer, meditation, journaling, or therapy—so that you don’t add to the clutter around you.
Managing Our Own Mess
Taking responsibility for our emotional "droppings" requires self-awareness and humility:
Acknowledge Your Mess: Denial only delays the inevitable. Recognize when jealousy, pride, or other difficult emotions are surfacing and take ownership for them before they spill over onto others.
Ask for Help: Whether through prayer or trusted confidants, seek guidance in managing your emotions and behaviors. God didn’t design us to navigate life alone; reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Make Amends: When your mess does affect others—and it will—don’t shy away from cleaning it up. Apologize sincerely and take steps to prevent similar situations in the future.
God’s Grace in Our Messiness
The beauty of being human is that God knows we’re messy—and He loves us anyway. He gave us free will not so we could be perfect but so we could learn and grow through our imperfections. The challenge is not in avoiding messes altogether but in taking responsibility for them when they happen and striving to do better next time.
So as the snow melts and reveals what’s been hidden beneath—and as the "shi(r)t" starts to show—let’s use this season as a reminder: We all have messes, but we also have the power—and responsibility—to clean them up. Whether it’s through setting boundaries with others or taking accountability for ourselves, let’s aim to create an environment where grace and growth can flourish.
Media Recommendation: ""World's glaciers melting faster than ever, expert says • FRANCE 24 English"
As the snow melts and reveals hidden messes, it’s not just our sidewalks that tell a story—our planet does too. This video highlights the alarming rate at which the world’s glaciers are melting, losing an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice per year. Just as our personal 'shi(r)t' starts to show when left unchecked, the earth’s changes remind us of the consequences of neglect. Watch as Michael Zemp, director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service, discusses how these shifts impact not just the environment but all of us who share it.
