Anyone seen the plunger?

I had an epiphany while cleaning the bathroom today.


The towels hang neatly from the holder, and you happen to notice that they match the shower curtain, the mats, the soap dish and even the window curtains. Ugly bathroom items have been hidden from sight in cabinets and cupboards. A sweet scent is wafting from a candle on the counter. Outside the spirited chatter of friends and the occasional burst of laughter meets your ears. That's when panic grips you like a strong wind. You feel your insides lurch to the top of your throat and your mind starts racing at lightening speeds, speeds you wish it could reach when studying or taking a test. You start sorting through your options in your head, but none of them seem feasible. Again and again you desperately try to flush the toilet, but for some reason, it won't budge. Why me? You ask yourself. You contemplate fleeing the scene, hoping no one is waiting outside the door. Lists of excuses enter your mind. You're no longer thinking logically. Instead of looking for a plunger or just waiting a few minutes and flushing again, your heart palpitates at an unhealthy rate. Finally you admit defeat and seek out your host; with a look of shame stealing over your face, you quietly mumble that there seems to be a problem in the bathroom. Before they can ask questions, you're gone. You may as well be on your way to India because if anyone comes looking for you, you don't know what happened.

I think everyone has been in this situation before. I have. I'll be the first to admit it. It's funny that we often do the same thing in bigger and more important life situations. Instead of just admitting that we made the mess, we try to sneak our way out of the situation, or give up before we try all of our options. We panic. We seek to blame others. We don't get rid of the mess, we avoid it. The problem is that if it's not taken care of, it builds up and soon overflows into other areas of our life, creating a smelly and dirty living situation.

It may seem gross or a little comical, but think on it.

Good news. I leave for Honduras this coming Tuesday!