Saturday, May 1, 2010

Reflection of a Gray Morning


The image came to me as I was sorting the laundry. There was a news item recently about WIN High Performance Sport Detergent, specially designed to removed the bacteria and odors associated with intense exercise. I'm not doing a commercial for them. But it did get me thinking....

Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

-Isaiah 1:18 (NRSV)

I don't view my sins as scarlet. I've been pretty fortunate in my life. I had a stable family life, and pretty good genes. My circumstances haven't placed me in temptation's way, at least not in many of the major temptation categories. As a result I haven't done much scarlet type sinning.

What if your sins are just kind of musty? That's what speaks to me. The mustiness of my life is a problem at times. I read the paper and get disillusioned and feel disempowered. Haliburton announced today that the cement job they did 20 hours before BP's drilling rig exploded had been "in accordance with accepted industry practice approved by our customers." Golly, their customers approve! I'm so grateful they didn't have to comply with any socialist, big-government regulations that might have impacted their bottom line! Much better to impact the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

Where was I? Oh yeah, how can I keep from sliding quietly into cynicism and despair? How do we avoid becoming numb in the face of all that is going on? How do we avoid compassion fatigue?

I'm not thinking I need bleach. I just need to find ways to become refreshed and reinvigorated. I need my colors brightened.

Well, writing helps. And talking with others. And chocolate, beer, dogs, bicycles, good music, gardening, going for walks, and counting my blessings. Yes, and being honest about my life and feelings.

Forgive me, for I have sinned. Do you have a novena for mustiness?

I'm going to pass on the WIN Detergent, at least until I get active enough to work up more of a sweat. Come to think of it, working up a sweat might be a good idea. I'll try to type faster.

1 comment:

  1. I hope your birthday was something akin to celebratory of YOU, Hollis! And since when did a Smart car have a horn that sounds more "real" than say my Toyota Matrix?

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