Crisis and Victory: Type A Trials

I have been trying to change a bunch of things around in my life all at once. The resultant chaos has been exhausting, yet illuminating. It has brought to mind the following quote I have read before from Paris Talks:

The trials of man are of two kinds. (a) The consequences of his own actions. If a man eats too much, he ruins his digestion; if he takes poison he becomes ill or dies. If a person gambles he will lose his money; if he drinks too much he will lose his equilibrium. All these sufferings are caused by the man himself, it is quite clear therefore that certain sorrows are the result of our own deeds. (b) Other sufferings there are, which come upon the Faithful of God.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 49)

Last weekend's experience would lead me to add that if a man or woman buys too much junk, he or she must clean it up or live in squalor. Here's an example.

Crisis :-/

After looking at the mess I had made I just felt tired. I found this prayer by searching cleanliness in my prayer app on my phone. I read it to try and find the energy to tackle the mess. It is from the Tablet of Purity:

O Lord! Give to the people of Baha cleanliness and holiness in  336  all conditions, purify and free them from all defilement, deliver them from the use of all that is execrated, liberate them from the chains of habits, so that they may be pure and free, clean and spotless, that they may be worthy servants of the Sacred Threshold and may deserve to enter into relation with God. Deliver them from alcohol and tobacco, and save them from opium, the purveyor of madness! Make them companions of the holy breezes, in order that they may know the pleasures of the wine of the love of God, and that they may attain to the joy and the happiness of attraction to the Kingdom of Abha!

Hast Thou not said, "All that thou hast in thy cellar will not appease the thirst of my love -- bring me, O cup-bearer of the wine of the spirit, a cup full as the sea!"

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 335)

What can I say? Prayer works! Somehow the mess got cleaned up/redistributed to other areas (sigh). This clean up and become a better person project is a process. I am learning to be patient with myself, as my friends and family have been patient with me and my stacks of junk all these years.

Victory!