Becoming unstuck by applying the small and simple things

We bought and moved into our current home 13 years ago. The bathroom and kitchen cabinets are circa 1984 and can be described as adequate but not beautiful. I am happy in my home with my family, but my bathroom drawer has been really sticky and made a terrible screeching every time I pried it open. I knew that oiling the drawer runners would probably help the situation. But still, I resented that drawer and fought with it every day until about a month ago when I went into the garage, grabbed the can of WD-40 (that had been in the garage this whole time), and applied the lubricant. The drawer works perfectly now.

I wonder why it took me 13 years to make such a simple adjustment. And why have I not oiled the kitchen drawers that behave similarly? The oil can is on my bathroom windowsill. I see it every day. The kitchen drawer that contains my Ziplocs and plastic wrap is unruly and stubborn, yet even enjoying the glide of my improved drawer, I haven’t fixed the others.

It is easy to put off and neglect minor improvements and adjustments to our lives. As a mother, a graduate student, and a professional, there is a lot to balance. The significance of my home maintenance issues goes beyond sticky drawers. I keep a list of self-improvement items on the shelf of my heart, glancing at them from time to time, but rarely applying any solid intention. I know, for example, that making time for scripture reading and personal reflection will smooth my life path as surely as the oil will unstick my drawers.

The prophet Alma taught his son, “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass…And the Lord doeth work by Means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).

Spiritual procrastination decreases my ability to feel motivated and inspired. Yes, I am busy. But I am not alone. And God has promised to help us along our life path back to him. Often that divine help comes from inspired friends, neighbors, and family.

Like my can of WD-40, my scriptures cannot improve my life if they remain unopened on my nightstand. I know that my life could be easier if I would pray and ask for the help and blessings that I know God is willing to send me. This knowledge does me little good if my head hits the pillow each night, exhausted, with a cursory “thanks for the day” communication as I fall asleep. But I become debilitated with the overwhelming lists of all I should be doing until I don’t do much at all.

Maybe fixing one drawer is good enough for now. This progress reminds me that I have the skills to make improvements. I don’t need to repair every broken relationship at once. I can give myself the grace God wants to extend to me. I can ask for his help and inspiration. And I can accept that change takes time.

I will get around to unsticking my other drawers. In the meantime, I will enjoy the ones that slide nicely.

Amity Condie has lived in Palmer since 2004. She enjoys Sunday naps in the sun and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.