Inventory and other forms of torture

Several years ago, I worked for a retail company, whose brilliant way to perform a yearly inventory, was to do so with all management in an overnight blitz of handheld scanners, caffeine and sleep deprivation.

We all hated it.

We suggested they hire a private group to come in after hours, to take some of the burden off of us in management. We pointed out how there would be a greater chance of human error if we were forced to pull an "all-nighter." This was all to no avail. The company, which was at the time one of the leading retail companies in the U.S., said their way of doing things worked for them and that's how things were going to stay. Period.

I was walking through a store the other night and noticed tags with the telltale signs of an upcoming inventory. Stock numbers, grids, etc were all typed and placed in various locations all over the store.
I looked around and saw a group of salespeople, straightening up and preparing, it seemed for what was to come.

Upon checking out I asked the clerk if he had to do inventory. He said, "No we have a separate company that does it for us, but it still isn't any fun."

It still isn't any fun is it? Inventory....that process, especially this time of year; reflection, combined with reminders of what wasn't done last year, or the year before, seem like torture. It honestly doesn't matter how streamlined the process, inventory is work.

I spent a good part of the last week, making lists, cleaning out drawers, looking through old journals and one truth was apparent. I may have gotten rid of physical clutter, but I have a long way to go, when it comes to personal inventory. My habits, my procrastination, my insecurities, my failures, reared their ugly heads like the hairstyles from the 80's.

Reminders of "what I should've done years ago," seemed to be the bulk of what I had in stock. Partially finished drawings, projects, prayers and a litanies of "Why God why?" filled my journal pages.

Reflection is healthy. We all need it. But just like a rapid fire of deleting Facebook friends, over something offensive, looking back doesn't mean we scrap the whole thing. It means, instead we look at the amazing role of grace.

No, I didn't pull an all-nighter and I certainly didn't hire an outside source to find all the discrepancies in my life. But, I prayed. I started over. New mercies everyday, and a God who loves me more than I could even inventory, are His promises.

My prayer this year, is that I'll be a little easier on myself. After all, no matter the outcome I still won't have to pull an all-nighter, or even become sleep deprived, that is when and only when I place everything in His more than capable hands.

The beauty of grace is no matter how many "should've beens," exist, there is still this truth:

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

So, the scanners are put away, but the inventory is far from over. It has, however taken on a very different feel. Daily grace vs. yearly overhaul?  Most definitely.