What I'm Learning From My Messy Office

My office is a virtual pigsty at the moment. It's totally and in all other ways trashed. I have 3 guitars hanging on my wall…they'd look really nice if there wasn't a tripod sitting in front of them and a pile of cords sitting on the floor below. I have a bookshelf that holds some of my Grandfather's books…items that are very precious to me. They'd look much nicer if the shelves weren't also filled with A/V gear (some of which actually works), music binders and more cords. Oh, and don't forget the 10' screen that's been leaning against it for a good month now. It was donated…but hasn't found a home yet.

My drawers are useless, filled to the brim with music we never play and files that are pretty much of no value to me. My cupboards are filled CD's I inherited from the last occupant. I've never listened to a single one. I have pictures on my walls…I also have pictures hidden behind the door…I'll hang them…someday. My floor is quite eclectic. There's an empty box, a virus filled PC, a pile of stuff my Son left behind the last time he was in here, my pedal board, 2 camera cases, 3 guitar cases and 3 cases of hand bells that haven't been used in 15 years (they're about to be donated…or sold…or both) - I have a digital picture frame that no longer works, a little 6 channel mixer that acts as a paper weight and a desk full of papers desperately needing to be sorted.

So why the vivid description? Because, this office tells a story. The reality is, I'm not a slob. I actually can't stand this office right now. The truth is, it's a reflection of what ministry life has been over the last few months. It's been both rewarding and brutal…fulfilling and frustrating. Looking back, hindsight being what it is, there are numerous things I would have done differently. I can look at this office and see things, important things, that were dismissed, put off, forgotten or just didn't make the priority cut. With the intensity now slowing down, I'm finding myself looking for a shovel so I can dig out of the fallout.

Let's take the guitars for example. They represent the gifts God chose to give me. Gifts I gladly lay at his feet. But how many times did I take my gifts back to try and force my way through this chaos?

Then there's my Grandpa's books. To me they represent a man who lived life the way God intended. Something I've failed at time and time again, but work very hard to lean into everyday. Yet the books have been covered up with tech projects, equipment and fried cords. Life these last few months has been covered up with a mile long to do list and very little margin to live life the way my Grandpa did.

My desk is another story. In 15 month I haven't managed to clean out the drawers or the cupboards. How often, in the last few months, have I failed to clean out what's inside of me? How often have I been so caught up in "doing", that I forgot the simple act of confessing and making myself right?

Anyhow…this is a long drawn out analogy, but one which struck me pretty hard this morning. Ministry isn't easy…we all know that. There are times of smooth sailing and times of chaos. The key for those of us who work in this environment is to not lose track of what matters, when all that seems to matter is surviving.

I think I'll clean my office today.

David McEvoy; an Interior Designer says:

Office interior design is just as important regardless of whether the office is situated at home or in a corporate building. In both cases, a lot of forethought and proper planning will produce the best results. The ideal office should be comfortable and safe, functional and attractive, with everything in its optimum place for maximum productivity and ease of use.

Of course, one style of office will not suit every type of business so there are no set rules regarding what constitutes the best office style. Imagine the office of your local garage and compare it with the office of a high-tech creative or artistic director - do they look the same when you visualize them in your mind? Probably not, these professionals have different tasks to carry out and the style of office design will reflect that because the ideal office of any business will reflect the business itself.

So, the purpose of the office and who is using it will influence the office design. For example, an office that requires one work station for one part time manual worker will not have the same practical or design issues as an office that employs hundreds of people to carry out sophisticated administrative tasks.

A modern interior design would naturally be a popular choice for high-tech and dynamic businesses at the forefront of technology simply because it suits the image of a company that is progressing and at the cutting edge of their field. Similarly, a more classic design might suit the offices of traditional type businesses that have been established for many years and of course a more informal and casual design would possibly be more appropriate for the local garage or manual trade professions. However, there are no hard and fast rules as it is simply a matter of personal preference and available budget.

Some important factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding on any styles, fixtures or fittings for any office interior designs include:

• The type of work or business to be done in the office

• The amount of floor space available and what equipment it needs to hold