Today as I was changing the bed sheets, I decided to put Nate’s favorites on. They’re full of thin stripes in blues and greens, resembling a king size bar code. I like them, too, because there’s no doubt of which fitted corner goes where. Since king size mattresses are close-to-square, it’s a mental exercise to get it right… unless the sheets are striped. Then it’s easy.

I think Nate liked these sheets because stripes represented order. He liked things to be controlled and if possible, tidy, which was a problem with an often-chaotic life. Being the father of seven brings turbulence as well as blessings, and financial ups and downs compound the turmoil. At the end of a day filled with commotion when Nate turned down the bed and was greeted with his favorite striped sheets, it did something special for him. He never failed to comment: “Oh, I like these sheets,” as if they were brand new.

I guess I could have blessed him with nothing but striped sheets, had I taken time to listen to the longing behind his comments. If I’d known how soon he would be leaving this world, I’d have done it for sure.

Today as I unfurled the sheets, it occurred to me stripes had popped up in other categories of Nate’s life, too. His favorite suits were pin-striped, and the ties he wore most often included diagonal lines. His shirts also followed the pattern, with the exception of the plain white ones he felt obligated to wear in court. If given a choice, stripes or checks were what he bought. Not sometimes, but always.

I hadn’t thought about this phenomenon until today. Disorder was hard on Nate, and he worked at keeping his life prepared and well organized. Even at restaurants, as we awaited our meals, he’d unconsciously straighten his silverware and line up his glass and cup to make his area “square with the world.” Without realizing it, the rest of us often worked against his efforts with our free-wheeling ways.

Reality doesn’t usually look like a bar code or even a checkered shirt. A better description of most lives is “askew”. Emergencies throw our schedules overboard, and conversations don’t always turn out like we expect. Frequently events overlap, forcing us to arrive late, prepare inadequately or flip-flop priorities. Over-commitment often stretches people like gum under a shoe. After a day filled with that kind of disorder, striped bed sheets give a reason to heave a big sigh and climb in, hoping for a better tomorrow.

Sometimes I think of Nate’s longing for his life to be neat and orderly and I’m flooded with thankfulness for where he is today. Either his wish has come true, or he’s changed into someone who can live with carefree abandon as he discovers joy upon joy in heaven. Either alternative is fabulous.

One thing is certain. Because there’s no night there, he’ll never need bed sheets… striped or otherwise.

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.” (Revelation 22:5)