Okay, it's not that disgusting. But God recently showed me a somewhat disgusting-but-true reminder.
I work with kids. I work at a public library. You interact with a lot of people and items that are "contaminated" (for lack of a better word!) People are sick. People read books and take movies when they're sick and put their infected hands all over library items. It's a fact of life. Can't change it. I try to be careful about washing my hands at work, but I can't be anal. And inevitably, it happens. I get sick. I've never been sick (or borderline sick) so many times as I have since I started working with kids. In fact, I rarely got sick in college! But now, between a crazy busy schedule that leaves me less than full strength at times (I'm working on that!) and constant contact with "carrier monkeys" (as Friend Jen lovingly calls her adorable girls!)... well, you get sick! So the disgusting thing? All that "bodily secretion". Pus. Mmmm. Anyone eating?
But what did God remind me of? The fact that we all have "infection" in our lives... sin. And for that infection to be healed and cleaned out, our body needs to fight it. It needs to produce the nasty stuff. That's a sign that our body is healing. The infection is not good. But the signs of healing are. So while colds and the like are not fun, the end result is good. I was recently driving into work and just struck by how cool our bodies reaction to infection is! (I know, weird.) But it's just amazing that God designed that system so our bodies would heal (and not get worse!) and that the gunk serves to warn us "hey, something's wrong here... go to a doctor or take some cold medicine!" (so the problem doesn't go untreated.) Just like sometimes, junk in our lives is hard, painful, challenging, etc. It's our warning "hey, something's wrong here... go to God and clean up the sin infection!" Just think about both cases, if what was wrong/infected continued to get worse with no warning... where would we all be? So yes, I'm thankful for the nasty signs of health returning. It means the infection's getting kicked to the curb!
P.S. I just got Mo Willems' new book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. Classic Mo. Hilarious. Grand-pah Mole Rat is wise. And seriously, who else but Mo Willems would think of a title like Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed??
4 comments:
Thanks for that reminder .. and I don't mean that I should start carrying around more disinfectant for my carrier monkeys ;)
But your carrier monkeys are so awesome :)
contaminated?....kids?....library?....are you nuts?? Just kidding. I love reading your very insightful posts! You are such a great writer.
By the way, I know you are strong in your faith...we are still searching for a church home here and it has not been good. What church do you go to?
I know, shocking news about the library, Shannon ;) And thanks. I like to write... when I have time!
As for church, I go to Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church. It's a bit of a hike, but I know it's where God's called me. I've never been at a church where it feels like you're with your extended family every Sunday! If you're looking for closer to us, I know there's a BFC church in Emmaus and on Cedar Crest that are both good. I used to go to Faith Evangelical Free Church and my parents still go there. And my brother goes to a new church plant in Emmaus that he loves. So I can give you a little more info on any of those, if you like!
P.S. I hope John and Camden had fun yesterday! Camden's color choice on the bunny ears was cracking me up!
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