Stepping into the closet (dealing with irrational fears)

Stepping into the closet (dealing with irrational fears)

So much of our daily life paralyses us. We are often faced with a to-do list as long as our arm but the thought of what lies beneath and beyond leaves us terrified. Letting lying dogs lie does not work because the nagging feeling of an unaccomplished task never leaves you. Let’s take cupboards, closets and drawers for example.

Many play hide and seek with their closets. Ironically, it’s a one-sided game for it is not the hiding that is the issue, that comes easy! If you care little for arranging your freshly washed laundry then you find yourself chucking everything in the drawer or closet and all you have to do is walk away; it is now hidden. It’s the seeking that gets vexing especially when you have to pull it all out for that one white shirt that you know is whiter than the others.

Then there are those like me. We colour code and arrange our washed laundry and separate the Sunday from the weekday wear. Towels have their place and so does the bed linen; if that’s not enough we have separate sections for single bed sheets and doubles and don’t forget the Christmas sets. No, we are not neurotic we are simply organized!

Yet there comes a moment, when no matter how you choose to live your life; that closet, that cupboard and that drawer must be cleaned out and arranged. I am convinced that clearing and cleaning out closets is a universally disliked activity. It is as if the ‘boodaman’ (an imaginary Indian ghost) is hidden somewhere beneath the bed linen and the curtains. It’s a place you don’t want to go and FOMO does not apply here.

Procrastination does not help.  The reality of daily opening the closet confronts you with that job not done. How easy it would have been if the closet did not have to be opened daily and yet it has to. Why are closets like so many other areas in our life, so hard to deal with?

Today was ‘closet day’ for me and guess what? It was not all that difficult! Fear had paralyzed me into thinking it was insurmountable.  Procrastinating what was just a regular chore had made me sentenced to self-inflicted house arrest.

So much of our lives are like our closets. The task at hand may seem like climbing a mountain but it’s a pleasant walk up a hillock. So here is what I have learnt. Get the bull by its horns. I am sure you won’t find the ‘boodaman’ hidden inside, rather like me, you will have a clean closet. Oh, by the way I also found some cash.

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3 thoughts on “Stepping into the closet (dealing with irrational fears)”

  • Oh well Father, a nice message for today. Must say, I too had found, not some cash but nearly 20,000/- but twas too late as by that time it had been demonitized…😢

    Reply
  • Dear Fr Warner,

    I read with interest your ‘ Opinion’ on why you disagree with the views expressed by the Holy Father.

    I appreciate the observations on what needs to be fixed and the key focus areas to make the Holy Mass a spiritually fruitful experience. It is also important to remember that His Holiness may be getting well rounded inputs from across the world on the issues plaguing the Catholic Church and the complexities that he has to deal with , as compared to other religious leaders within the Catholic Church including you whose exposure and experience are likely to be significantly less.

    It’s also interesting to note that you have said that the Holy Father has spoken about the need to reduce homily time ( you said 4 occasions).
    If that be so, it’s very unlikely to have been an off the cuff remark and instead, one that stems from a deep rooted conviction as also based on reliable inputs that the ‘ attention span ‘ of the parishioners, is dwindling, particularly the young generation who are increasingly staying away from Sunday Mass.

    While you’re completely at liberty to disagree with the Pontiff, What was distasteful was the use of grossly inappropriate language that he indulged in “ Cheap Chatter” and was “ playing to the gallery”

    After all he is the Head of the Roman Catholic Church and therefore to use such language in a public forum, to my mind, was completely unwarranted.

    Criticism should always be constructive. How would you like it if I turned it around and said that you’re playing to the gallery.

    Let us agree to disagree but not be disagreable.

    Warm Regards
    Kurian

    Reply
  • Hey people!!!!!
    Good mood and good luck to everyone!!!!!

    Reply

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