A "CLEAN MACHINE"

I’ve been cleaning like a madwoman the last few days.

I’m having my writer’s group over today…and “The Hub” insisted that everything be “military” clean.

And, to his credit, he spent yesterday afternoon helping me.

(Yup, he’s a “keeper!”)

Most of the work was the ordinary stuff of housecleaning – dusting, scrubbing, scouring, washing, polishing, vacuuming, dusting again (because I think you’re supposed to vacuum first, and then dust…)

But, there was one job I kept putting off – until “The Hub” ever so gently said,

“Sweetie, what about the bottles in the window?”

OK, you need a little background here. I LOVE bottles!

They are one of my collecting “weaknesses.” And so, in the garden window over my sink in the kitchen, I have my collection of bottles. Some are antique reproductions, some are old, some are new and inexpensive – but they’re all different shapes and sizes, all different colors of the rainbow!

And when the light shines on them – my window resembles a stained-glass window from a beautiful old church. I think it’s dazzling!!

But… these bottles have to be cleaned…each one…all 45 of them!!

So, I carefully removed them from the window – paying extra-special attention to the ORDER I have placed them in (it’s important – I have to have all the colors and shapes spread out JUST SO…) – and then I started the rather arduous task of wiping each one down with a damp cloth.

I was surprised at just how dusty and dirty they had become.

But I was even more amazed at how much brighter and more colorful they were when that old dust and dirt came off!!

It reminded me of myself…

How often do I allow myself to become “dusty and dirty” in my walk with the Lord?

Can I fall into the trap of thinking that “all is well” – when in truth, I need to do a little “cleaning?”

It’s all too easy to become complacent in our faith, to walk the same old path with God, to think we’re reflecting Him properly.

But I don’t want to settle for a “dim” reflection!

Those bottles were beautiful before I cleaned them. It wasn’t until I looked at them more closely that their “uncleanness” showed up. It wasn’t until I had washed them, and put them back into the window, that I fully realized how truly “unclean” they had been – how much the dust and dirt had dulled them.

Now, with the sun shining through their gleaming surfaces, I could see the FULL beauty of their colors!

Lord, I don’t want to be dusty and dirty. I don’t want to be a dull reflection of You. I want You to shine through me with all Your glorious colors.

I know that’s going to require cleaning – so, clean me, Lord.

“Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin…and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

(Psalm 51:3, 7, 10)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me…Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Need a little cleaning?

I did…

BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”