The concept of order is a complex one. This doesn’t mean it’s complicated. It’s complex because it can’t be understood without taking into account all the other aspects of life. What is the best approach to understanding order? We attempt to answer this question in this article (an English version is also available).
Order, from the perspective of disorder
There are at least two ways to understand order: a negative way and a positive way. In a negative sense, order is understood in contrast to a situation of disorder:
- Order in one’s room: neatly folded clothes, well-organized shoes, belongings in drawers… – in contrast to clothes in disarray, scattered shoes, and belongings strewn across the desk…
- Order in the family: children respecting their parents, parents taking proper care of the home and children… – as opposed to a family where children insult their parents, and parents do not take care of their household at all…
- Order in society: respect for the authority of the state, no disturbances to public order… – in contrast to a society where everyone does as they please. And one could provide numerous examples of applications…
By examining this way of understanding order, we can draw two lessons.
Reaction
First, we understand that seeking order is a response to a lack of harmony, a lack of peace, a deficiency in progress, which common sense perceives as an obstacle to the normal development of things. For example, when you’re in a garden and the plants grow in disorder, they don’t yield the expected fruits – you need to bring order to the field by cutting the weeds so they don’t smother the seeds, allowing them to grow normally. Or if my room is very messy, I’ll waste a lot of time looking for my things, and I won’t be able to work in good conditions, etc. – I need to bring order to my room by organizing my belongings to be able to study properly.
Anticipation
Secondly, we understand that order needs to be maintained, cultivated – if we don’t make the effort, we risk being “overwhelmed by events.” This second lesson is interesting for our personal development and self-examination.
For example, when weeds grow in a field, it’s a disaster for the crops. But it may be a sign that the farmer neglected something. Perhaps he didn’t cut the weeds in time, or maybe he didn’t plow the land enough to remove the bad roots. By analogy, disorder in our lives is often – not always – a sign of neglect. Admitting it is not a sign of weakness; on the contrary, it’s the beginning of a profound process of inner reconstruction. Behind every manifestation of disorder, not panicking and searching for the root causes can be very productive:
- Do you often lose your keys? Maybe you should keep them in the same place, a visible place, and do the same for all important objects.
- Are you usually disoriented in the morning? Maybe you’re not getting enough sleep.
- Do you eat at any time and anything? You might consider having a meal schedule or consulting a dietician to follow a diet.
Order, an instrument of communion
If we stop at a negative interpretation of order, we miss something important. Order is not only a situation but also a virtue. And as such, order is practiced and serves our happiness and fulfillment.
At the core of our being is communion – communion with nature, with others, with ourselves. Christians are not surprised by this quote from the Jesuit theologian Jean Daniélou, as the Christian faith teaches that we are made in the image and likeness of God – who is himself communion. The essence of being human is to seek this communion in everything we experience, in everything we do – whether we are alone or with others. It is essential for our happiness. In this sense, order is an extraordinary instrument, and this can be easily understood. Let’s now analyze these different forms of communion to discover another aspect of order.
Communion with nature
We live in an ordered world so that our life can be possible and beautiful. The beauty of this world delights and inspires us. This same beauty calls for responsible behavior on our part so that our environment can remain a place of rest and inspiration. Being orderly predisposes us to communion with nature, with our environment – and this communion makes us happy.
Communion with others
We are made for communion, with nature and with others. This is well understood because no one makes themselves:
- We are born into a family, where we learn the basics of life.
- We grow up in a community of friends, neighbors, colleagues.
- We learn about ourselves through the eyes of others.
- And more fundamentally, we learn our values – the ones that shape us – by observing and listening to others.
Not only are our actions and words inspired by others, but they are also oriented toward others, giving them their true meaning: why do we smile? To be pleasing to the person looking at us – because someone gave us a compliment or reminded us of a good memory; why do we run? To get to a place where someone is waiting for us; why do we want this or that? To help someone, to be well-regarded by someone, to take revenge on someone, etc. Human life is naturally ordered by relationships with others.
Communion with oneself
In his encyclical Fides et Ratio, Saint John Paul II reminded us of this important truth: a cursory glance at ancient history shows clearly how in different parts of the world, with their different cultures, there arise at the same time the fundamental questions which pervade human life: Who am I? Where have I come from and where am I going? Why is there evil? What is there after this life? And we ask them in our own way.
The thirst for perfection that animates every human being arises from these universal questions – questions that guide our daily actions. It is understood that one who cannot answer these questions lives in confusion and cannot be in communion with themselves. More pragmatically, it is difficult to plan when you don’t know where you’re going – difficult to correct yourself if you don’t know who you are or where you come from. We must constantly have clear ideas about these existential questions to aspire to happiness – to adopt a conduct that allows us to be in communion with ourselves.
“Keep order, and order will keep you.” – Saint Augustine (354-430)
So here we are at the conclusion. If we are made for communion, our actions must be in line with our nature of being in communion. This is a positive way to understand order: as an instrument that allows us to be in line with our true nature.
“Keep order, and order will keep you.” This statement by Saint Augustine is a wonderful roadmap for everyday life. Even though the practical way to live order depends on individual circumstances, universal experience shows that to be orderly in all things, one must get used to it in the smallest things. The different levels of communion we have seen above can help us explore some ideas.
Goal: Communion with one’s environment
Remember that the goal here is to respect the space in which you live because it allows you to rest and inspires you. For this, even the smallest gestures are valuable for cultivating stable habits within you:
- Making your bed when you wake up,
- Tidying your desk before leaving it,
- Cleaning the inside of your house regularly,
- Cutting the grass around your house frequently.
Goal: Communion with others
As we’ve seen earlier, our actions are somehow linked to others. Thinking about this, thinking about the happiness of others, can help us adopt good habits:
- Why should I arrive on time at school? Because my parents are paying for my education and I don’t want to disappoint them… out of respect for my teacher who is there early… so that my teacher doesn’t feel like they’re expending effort for nothing… to set a good example for my classmates… to get a good education and serve society well.
- Where should I put this object? Where others can easily find it.
- Where can I go tonight? To a friend’s place, to have an enjoyable time. Or to stay with my family, to accompany someone who needs company.
Goal: Communion with oneself
Communion with oneself is a highly spiritual consideration. The first three questions that Saint John Paul II mentions in his encyclical are an excellent guide and a means of examining one’s conduct:
- Who am I? Remembering who you are, your values, your priorities in life, your driving force. Correcting your behavior when it deviates from your values. Daily meditation – and for Christians, union with Christ through prayer and the sacraments – is a good way to stay vigilant.
- Where do I come from? Where am I going? Having a plan for the day, week, year, short-term, and long-term goals, to know where you’re going and not get distracted.
The list could be even longer, but let’s stop here and remember that faithfulness in small things guarantees faithfulness in big things (Matthew 25:23).
The effort is worth it, as Saint Josemaria reminds us:
Order will bring harmony to your life, and lead you to perseverance. Order will give peace to your heart, and dignity to your composure.
Forge, 806