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Writer's pictureL. Roy Aiken

The Meaning of Life

Updated: Jul 14, 2022

I wipe the cat prints

from the windowsills

I glide a paper towel

across the stair steps

to collect the airy tumbles

of cat hair gathering

in the corners.


Even as I dread the litter boxes

(we have two)

I praise God for the lives

He has entrusted me with

that I have their lives to cherish

and maintain


And as I move about the house

and yard, sweeping dirt and

debris from the garage

I realize this is the meaning

of life right here:


To rise and make the coffee,

to feed the cats their kibble,

take out the garbage,

sweep the porch,

plan a trip to the store,


all of those things

lesser mortals count

for drudgery beneath

their lesser selves,


the kind of work

fit only for women

and children.


As I do not despise

women and children

I wonder what kind of person

despises work so much

he entrusts important tasks

(they’re all important)

to people they despise


I am honored to serve

and clean and maintain

for this is what it’s all about

what Jesus meant when He said

those who humble themselves

will be exalted


For I am already exalted

and honored to be here

to bring order to chaos

to make wrongs right

clean that mess


On a far smaller scale

than what my Lord does

but at least I’m striving

to be like Him


Even as my heart is

incomplete

malformed

rank with hatreds

and resentments

I struggle to shake


At least I can serve

now I must to learn to forgive

(starting with myself)

and feel compassion for those

who look down on me

for not indulging their own

sickness of soul


Cleaning a kitchen is nothing.

A heart truly like Christ’s

is everything,

and so much harder

to achieve.


Taking out the trash

is only the beginning


Lord, I will need

Your help

for the rest.



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