Once again, if I haven't mentioned it before, I am a clean freak. Like, borderline OCD. No lie. However, the house has several rules to nip this potential problem in the bud. For instance, each person is to wash, dry, and put up their dishes almost immediately. Also, each housemate is assigned a chore to complete each week, ranging from vacuuming to taking out the trash to mowing. This whole system runs quite smoothly during normal school semesters. However, when summer hits, so does a major case of "that's not my job" syndrome.
Some people are moving out while new ones are moving in. Many go home for extended periods of time. And thus, the house becomes a mess. Now the person who normally vacuums the living room isn't here anymore, so guess what? Yep, you are correct. It doesn't get done. Surprising huh?
The biggest surprise to me though is that this is a house full of Christians. You would think this wouldn't be a problem. Yet, time and time again the trash goes without being taken out. Dishes are left in the sink for extended periods of time. The floor becomes unbearable sticky. Now, I'm not completely innocent here. There have been a couple of times I just crammed my empty water bottle in the trash can because I was too busy to take out the trash. Yet, with 16 people, you would think things would get done, but nevertheless, they do not.
I'm going to tell you a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody:
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
In 1 Peter 4:9 it says "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." I'm honestly not trying to pass judgment on anyone because I know I am guilty of this sometimes, too. Yet, it is something I think some of my fellow housemates need to hear. It's hard to do what you know is technically not your job but sometimes it has to be done. And to do it out of selfless love and service, as an act of kindness, not out of bitterness or pride, then it truly says something about you and about your walk with God.
Because waiting for somebody else to do what anybody could have done won't always cut it. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, suck it up, and get the job done.
And after all, practice makes perfect.
