Grab a bag and a pooper scooper.....

Who new that so much clarity could come from meticulously searching for dog poop to pick up in my backyard?  Sure enough, today I spent time going back and forth, carefully combing the yard up one side and down the other searching for the poop my children swore they would pick up before we even adopted a dog (3 years ago).  It makes sense though...when else do I have such focus on one particular task at home?  The kids sure aren't going to bother me while I am out their, that's for sure.  I can't take my phone, because my hands are busy and just yuck! What happens if I drop my phone in the bag full of poop I am concentrating on filling?  There is no coming back from that one (soaking a phone in a bag of rice won't help in that instance people!)  So I am focused, no distractions, so my mind wanders...what prompted me to come out here today at this time and pick up the poop?  Yesterday, the sweet neighbor kids that fill my yard everyday came over after school to play in the backyard and we had several "poop on the shoe" dilemma's!  The sweet little 3 year old little girl came up to me and said, "Smif, there is dog poop on my favoritest shoes ever!  What will we ever do?"  Yep, that is what prompted the poop and scoop!  I thought about her as I was scooping, I was serving my neighbors by picking up this poop so her favoritest shoes would not be poopified ever again!  Then my brain segwayed into the thought that I have spent the last ten years (as a parent) elbow deep in poop!  Who gets a dog the same year your youngest becomes completely potty trained?  Let's be honest, my definition of "completely" means no pull ups, no yelling from the bathroom to wipe the poop off, no reminders for my kids to wash their hands after using the bathroom, or finding surprise skid marks while doing laundry!  I would be that person who gets a dog and is stuck again with cleaning up the poop.  But, there are joys and celebrations that have come from all of those moments.

Next, I thought of the wise words of Vanilla Ice.."stop, collaborate and listen"(remember, I am picking up poop people).  I thought, his words are so wise.....and the clarity hit full on!  This was my time with God!!!!  He called me in this time to focus, get rid of distractions, clear the poop in my life, STOP and be, COLLABORATE with Him (talk), and LISTEN.  I thought of this scripture Jeremiah 33:3

 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

I realized this time, right here in the poop, I wanted to know the unsearchable truths of God that only He can tell me.  In my struggle with quiet time, He has ordered this time with Him.  So Clarity and Dog Poop is born.  I prayed about what  will come of this and why I had the calling to put this in a blog format.....and I listened.  I have been in constant struggle with God since the death of my nephew a few years ago....the thought came to me "you've been slinging poop at God for too long, it's time to clean it up so that your favoritest shoes can once again walk in the footsteps of Jesus with purpose and clarity."

So feel free to check in and encourage, because when your gentle reminder that God has been patiently waiting for you comes while picking up dog poop....well you start scooping!  And....I wont' always speak of poop, but feel free to giggle because my nephew and son assure me that saying and hearing the word poop is hilarious!  I won't judge!