Title, Explanation, Attitude or Inside Joke?

Neon, Desert, Dust and Dog Hair.

THE BACKSTORY

"Neon, Desert, Dust and Dog Hair" represents more than colorfully lit location and challenges to sanitation, (or random word choice). I've joked that if I ever wrote my memoir, I'd call it Dust and Dog Hair, as that seems to characterize many of my mundane ongoing irritations. I like to think of it as my version of The Small Stuff. Alternate possibilities include, I Can't Answer the Phone Because my Dogs are Eating my Tax Return. (That actually happened.) or I  Really, Really Wish I'd Used the Restroom Before I Left. 

NEON IN THE DESERT

I have a very surreal view, particularly at night. ("View" defined as looking out over the distance rather than referring to a questionable attitude, though I suppose that depends on who you ask.) If I walk out my front door, follow my street as it curves downhill into the next, turn left, turn right, then left again until I come to a large intersection, take the crosswalk to the other side, go halfway back up the same hill and finally turn around to face the valley below, then I have a view (as well as rather dubious sentence structure). It's a trek, but it leads to a unique and spectacular sight. Ah, location, location, location.

Imagine the Earth was indeed flat, and tilted at a severe angle until the world's historical icon's of architecture tumbled, rolled, slipped and slid down to a single edge. Now visualize dressing them in obnoxiously colorful neon like they were going to a RAVE or a roller-disco. (I'm trying to provide multi-generational references here, my generation admittedly embracing the latter.) Finally, put the entire collection in a dryer on the hottest setting.

Photo courtesy of Brett Mathews

Only in the Neon Desert will you find a noticeably "shrunk" Egyptian Pyramid, Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower. Neon framed electronic billboards cast rapidly changing shadows across a fifty-years-young Roman Colosseum complete with R-rated statuary. Among the many other questionable wonders exists a faux version of Venice's Rialto Bridge under which flow chlorine-scented canals laden with tourists in motorized Gondolas snapping selfies as they are piloted by singing young men wearing the compulsory striped tight T-shirts. Mind you this is all on the same street!

You might assume that living above the Neon Desert must be terribly exciting (or excitingly terrible). Really, that hasn't been my experience. I go to work, come home, clean things and fix things. If I crave variety, there are always bills to pay. I go to bed. I get up. Repeat. Sound familiar? It's just...living. Most of us have some experience with a similar pattern, even if it doesn't include slot machines at just about every gas station. (Not a temptation for me. I lose money in vending machines!)

DUST AND DOG HAIR

Living in the desert (neon, incandescent, candlelit or otherwise) brings a persistent supply of dust. It's truly unfortunate there's no market for dust. I'd love to package it in charming little bottles with tiny corks and have potential buyers get into furious bidding wars on eBay. However everyplace has its own dust. Who would covet my dust when there is the local variety to contend with?

Photo courtesy of my dogs

In addition, I have three perpetually shedding dogs that glory in rubbing their furry bodies on every accessible surface. Sometimes I suspect they are cats in disguise "slumming it" as dogs. Dog hair gathers with the dust in the corners. It delicately floats off the tile at the slightest disturbance only to spread farther out. It seems impervious to vacuums and laughs at brooms. Mops fear it. It possessively attaches itself to furniture and grabs onto clothing like a living parasite. Furthermore, each dog is a different shade. Black, beige and white fur are all represented so that it doesn't matter what color the carpet, furniture or my clothing is. The dog hair will show. It wants to be noticed.

To combat the relentless battle with dust and dog hair, I have lint rollers and static dusters in every room. At one point it looked so appallingly utilitarian to have WMCs (weapons of mass cleanliness) strewn about that I finally placed them in vases like flower arrangements in hopes that they might be decorative as well as functional. It works for me, anyway.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT

Neon, Desert, Dust and Dog Hair. Perhaps I should use the acronym "ND³H"? Hmm, maybe not. It sounds too much like a synthesized chemical. We all have our own form of Neon, something that is unique to our circumstances. It locates, anchors, and sometimes defines our environment. Even if your surroundings feel commonplace, truly they are exceptional. Why? Because you are there, even if you have to hike a little to see more clearly.

"I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well." (Psalm 139:14, HCSB)

Likewise, we all have some personal variation of dust and dog hair, those ceaseless irksome things that noisily demand constant and immediate attention, though we probably could acknowledge that they just aren't that important. (Clearly I do not refer to anyone's children.) I wonder what might happen if we merely acknowledged the dust and dog hair and focused on matters that truly are significant, meaningful and even eternal.

"Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own." (Matthew 6:34 HCSB)

NOT ALL DESERTS ARE NEON

Photo courtesy of Edr Zambrano

We have all been in a spiritual desert at one time or another. Maybe you are in one now? Nearly 3,500 years ago, Israel wandered the desert for forty years due to their disobedience and disbelief. They were delivered from Egypt just as we can be delivered from our sins through Christ's sacrifice. But they lost faith. They rebelled. They didn't trust God's promises. I'm loathe to admit it, but I've had seasons where I've done the same as the early Israelites. I doubted. I rebelled. I wanted to run my own show. Unfortunately the ratings were horrible and the season was cancelled after the first few sorry episodes.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

If you are wandering a spiritual desert right now, I urge you to get right with God. It's so simple to initiate. Just...talk to Him. Speaking in Ye Old King's English isn't a prerequisite, so don't feel you need to include "thee" or "thou" (though you can if you wish).  Open up to Him and be authentic. Tell Him how you feel, even if it's angry. Trust me, He can handle it. Admit your mistakes and ask for His forgiveness. He knows you better than you do. I know He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. In fact, He has great plans for you. How am I certain of this? Because He said so.

"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

By the way, if you don't know Jesus yet, you need to. I strongly suggest you don't put that off.  Check out this short video.

God Bless You - Mimi

RECOMMENDED LINKS

Very cool site with info for new believers. Great short video explaining The Gospel too.

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