The Fitted Sheet

I believe that everyone has an archnemesis, even if they are referred to by different names. According to all wise internet, “An archnemesis refers to a character or entity that is the main adversary or opponent of another character or entity, often present in literature, films, or other forms of media. They typically represent the ultimate threat or challenge to the protagonist and are driven by a deep-rooted animosity or conflict. Archnemeses frequently engage in a long-standing battle or rivalry, often characterized by strategic plots, physical confrontations, and a clash of ideologies or goals.” It is an arch enemy or arch rival if you will. Something that haunts you and that you feel the need to conquer in your life, but perhaps you keep pushing aside because of procrastination, fear, or dread of failure.

I have several, one of which is the vaulted ceiling in the foyer of our house that has needed to be painted for many years due to time and grandbabies’ scuffs and fingerprints. However, the real reason it began to haunt me, and I urgently wanted to get it done, was that my husband had bought me a beautiful crystal chandelier in New Orleans, Louisiana, on our vacation, in May this year, to celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary. He had stated that when we, meaning me, get the foyer painted, then we, meaning he, could hang the chandelier. Understandably so because we did not want to get paint on this magnificent, expensive piece. Unfortunately, I have developed a fear of heights in my ‘old age’, and since the foyer has a 20 foot ceiling, it mocked me every time I came in the front door, chanting, “You can’t do it, you’re too scared!” Well, my ladder, paint can, paint brush, a roller on a very long extension pole, and I, have had the last laugh! Though it is now October, we completed the job a few weeks ago. What a relief to get that project done and conquer that monster. And by the way, the chandelier looks exquisite!

There is another rival that I wrestle with every week, and there may be those of you out there in the blog and podcast world who share this enemy, and that is the dreaded ‘fitted sheet’. There is of course the whole mystery of the folding of the fitted sheet. The flat sheet looks so cute, flat, and freshly folded in the linen closet ready for the next use, and then there’s this blob. It is quite the challenge, because though I believe I have mastered putting the corners together while folding, as you fold it over, no matter how hard you try, it slowly morphs into a scrunched up mess, like a piece of paper you’ve wadded up to throw in the trash. It is not known specifically who invented or started the use of sheets, but it is known that the Egyptians used them as far back as 4500 years ago, however, since ‘fitted sheets’ have elastic sewn on the four corners, I doubt it dates back that far, as we know them. However, they were deemed necessary, and the tradition has continued. 

The first sheets used were made of linen, cotton, or silk, which were breathable materials. This was found to help regulate body temperature as they slept, keeping folks warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Though they were originally all white, we now have just about any color or pattern our hearts desire, which double now as design elements in our bedrooms, besides affording us a good night’s rest. They also assist in keeping allergens down and in overall hygiene as well as preserving mattresses for a longer time. It is said that the human body loses over 500 million skin cells per day, a number we cannot even imagine. Because we are constantly shedding, the skin you have a month from now will be different from what you have today.  And yes, you guessed it, a lot of those dead cells are landing in our beds, along with body odors, sweat, and more, yuck, thus the need to routinely wash the sheets. I have heard, for this reason, one should also vacuum the mattress before putting the clean set of sheets on to further assist in getting rid of the unwanted dead things, and keeping things fresh, which I may or may not do every time.

Though we have come to hate the folding of the fitted sheet, there is another aspect that we wrestle with. We have a subconscious conversation with ourselves weekly, thinking, “Should I wrestle with this today or wait a few more days?” The reason for this is because who among us can get that thing on the bed correctly the first time? It is my archnemesis. Yes, they are colorful, soft, and comfy, but who wants to have to try to win the WWA award every time you change the sheets. I recently saw a clip of a lady huffing and puffing like she had just finished running a marathon, and she was asked if she was okay, and she stated, “Oh yes, thank you, I’m fine, I just finished making the bed.” It’s a workout for sure!

In my personal ‘fitted sheet’ journey, I specifically look at each side, since the bed is rectangular and not a square, we know as adults having passed our kindergarten and elementary years that there will be two sides long and two sides short. Oh yes, we know this. Yes, we know that it must go on the bed a specific way to fit properly. But invariably, even after much scrutinizing and cross examination, I will get it wrong. I get the first corner on nice and tight with much confidence, only to discover as I’m headed down to the bottom corner, that it is too short! It is infuriating. However, at that point, do we give up and just leave the bed unmade, or just throw the comforter over the mess and put the pillows in place and leave, and try to forget about it. That I cannot do, it is not in my DNA. No, we must try again. I cannot claim a 100 % success rate, however, often, I will get it right on the second attempt. Then I can add the flat sheet, comforter and all the optional decorative pieces.  

You have heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” This expression is said to have originated with the first king of Scotland, ‘Robert the Bruce’, dating back to the 11^th century, after going into hiding from the British. He sat and watched a spider attempting to weave a web and failing at it repeatedly. However, Mrs. Spider was not dissuaded, but continued to try until she had success. Some say this is an expression to encourage those who have failed to continue forging ahead, while others say, this is a ridiculous notion, because if you didn’t achieve something the first time, you will never get it right. I personally choose to hold to the former thought. I do not think that any of us would have accomplished what we have in our lives by taking the latter view point. We are often too critical and quick to judge harshly those who fail at things, especially smaller things like putting on or folding a fitted sheet, thinking that this is ridiculous. However, we must embrace the latitude of failing at a particular thing, with the understanding that it does not make us a failure. We must also hold to the concept of second chances for ourselves and afford others this opportunity as well.

Those who criticize will at some point in their lives find themselves in need of forgiveness as well. Every now and then, while attempting to fry that perfect egg, no matter how much of a ‘master chef’ you claim to be, the yoke will break. It is inevitable. Though it is disappointing, because we know the runny yoke is the best part. However, when breakfast time rolls around again the next day, they will try it again. You say, what a silly example, maybe so, however, life is full of small challenges that in turn build up our resilience to try, try again, when we face the larger challenges. We do not come into this world as fully grown, successful adults. There are baby steps we take along the way, physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially, spiritually, and so forth. Even when we reach the point in life where we think we have achieved the ultimate place in life, job, or success, because we are humans, we will make mistakes. Even a person who has been through ten years of college and has a shingle hanging above a door stating that they are now a doctor, can misdiagnose diseases and conditions. This is perfectly understandable, when you think how so many symptoms can overlap in many different conditions. Even though they may be embarrassed or frustrated with themselves at times, doctors will continue to try, try again, to keep us healthy and save lives. I for one am glad they do not give up. David tells us of the Lord, in Psalm 103:14, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

What is the archnemesis in your life? It is said that you might as well admit it and face it, because God already knows. What task is daunting to you and you’ve been procrastinating on? What is it you want to or need to specifically get right for it to work properly, as the example of the fitted sheet. It only fits on the bed when it’s in the proper position. There are a lot of alternatives and choices in life and substitutes that can be made along the way that will work just as well as your original plan. As in the sheet example, you can always use a flat sheet as a bottom sheet as well and fold the corners in what is called ‘hospital’ style, and it will work just fine. Instead of climbing that ladder and painting that vaulted ceiling, you could hire someone to do it for you, if you had the time and means available. However, what about the more weighty or important things in life. A misdiagnosis for instance, can sometimes lead to unpleasant results and even death. There are many things in our lives that we must personally conquer and get right, to advance and reach our full potential as a person, spouse, parent, employee, or Christian, even if we must keep trying repeatedly until we do. We see the lesson again in Proverbs 30:28 which tells us, “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.”  Mrs. Spider gets what she wants and lives lofty not because of her skills, or talents, though you know if you have seen a spider web she is gifted, but because of her persistence.

We must avoid giving excuses of why we just cannot do something or achieve a goal or put our heart and soul into things. We cannot defer to others every time we run into a snag in life. Life can be chaotic and get messy like that folded fitted sheet at times, and we cannot always control it or get it folded up into a neat package, but the messes are what develop us into what God wants us to be. They build our character and instill in us patience, endurance, understanding and wisdom. We must be ready for all the nuances and changes that life throws our way.  We can add to ourselves skills and talents if we are persistent.  2 Peter 1:5-8 tells us, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  God wants us to be fruitful and successful in every way, and we can be through diligence.

In Matthew 25, we read about the man who had to take a journey and he called his servants, and gave one five talents, to another two talents, and to the third one he gave one talent. The first two servants worked with what they were given and doubled the master’s money or goods, but the third one buried his talent. Verses 24-30 tells us the end of the story, “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.”  The master did not compare the last servant to others and say that he should have been more like them, and done what they did, but he did require some type of action and fruitfulness. This scripture is a comparison of how the Lord views us. We must not insult God’s intelligence. The reward does not come from fear, hiding, or making excuses, but from trying and trying again.

The apostle Paul had his struggles and personal difficulties and continued to try to persuade God of what he needed. God did answer him, but it was not the answer he had hoped for.  2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us the answer, “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  Later when giving his testimony at Phillipi, Paul stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” He had learned that no matter how lofty our opinion is of ourselves, it is only through God that we can succeed. It is never through our own skill, talents, intelligence, or strength.

Life can be tough, and the road can be arduous at times, but we must keep in mind what the wise man, Solomon, said in Ecclesiastes 9:11 after not always acting wisely in his life, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.” Some days we may conquer the world and other days we may only be able to change the sheets, but Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, “… but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” If you have approach life with the ‘try, try again’ attitude, you will reap the rewards of your labor in this life, and in the life to come. When we hear the words of Matthew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”, this is when all our archnemeses will finally be conquered and slain, never to raise their ugly heads again. Go forth and try, and if you fail, just try, try again.