August 21, 2000
CYBERCOLUMN:
The spiritual discipline of laundry
___By Brett Younger
___Books on the spiritual disciplines include chapters on prayer, Scripture, worship, fasting, meditation and so on, but they usually make a glaring omission. The most neglected spiritual practice, by far, is laundry.
___ In Exodus 19:10, the Bible clearly states, "The Lord said unto Moses, Go unto thepeople and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes." It's no coincidence that angels are usually pictured in bright, which might be translated "just out of the dryer," clothing. When John Wesley said, "Cleanliness is next to godliness," he was onto a vital truth.
BRETT YOUNGER
___ As with other spiritual disciplines, we are tempted to let initial failures keep us from trying again. We don't like to talk about it, but most of us have had bad experiences with reds and whites that became pinks. Those disappointments, which may have come while we were still immature in our faith, should not lead us to say: "I'm no spiritual giant. Laundry's not for me." We all need to ask, "What are the keys to growing spiritually through laundry?"
___ Simplicity is crucial. Avoid products with names like the "Wonder Washing Disc." Don't give much attention to fancy fabric softeners, starch, bleach and ironing. Use less detergent than the powers that be tell you to use. Laundry that deepens our journey is straightforward washing in the normal cycle with no frills.
___ Sorting is a way of appreciating the diversity within creation. Spirituality is free, but it's also ordered, so read labels. Recognize the difference between permanent press and delicate, but don't see that difference as a negative; it's a gift. Sort carefully, but every once in a while, playfully toss a pair of old white socks into a blue load just to see what happens. Wash in all temperatures, but use hot only when absolutely necessary. When you spray a tough greasy spot with stain remover, think about what the prophet Jeremiah said, "For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee with much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked" (2:22). Be glad that you have a can of Shout instead of nitre.
___ Laundry and spirituality take time. Don't be in a hurry. Wisdom knows that two minutes in the spin cycle saves 20 in the dryer. Be still and listen to the washer making the world cleaner. Fold in quiet reflection. Try not to think too much when you're folding. I used to mistakenly ask, "Why do I wash the towels so much? Aren't we clean when we use them?" When you hang shirts, realize that you are stating your hope in the future. Pairing socks is an act of reconciliation, but don't worry when a sock escapes from the dryer. It will find its place. Remember that it's not the clothes that make the man (or woman); it's folding the clothes. Don't live every day as if it's your last--or you'll never wash clothes.
___ Doing someone else's laundry is an expression of agape love. Though folding is usually a time for solitude, it also must be taught to and shared with children. Begin with age-appropriate folding. Don't give your 5-year-old a fitted sheet; it's cruel (though undeniably amusing). Some people find meaning in praying as they fold: "Thank you for the socks that will cover my feet. Where should my feet take me tomorrow?" If you pray over your laundry, do so silently. If someone hears and expresses admiration for your spirituality, you may become proud.
___ In his farewell speech to the Hebrew people (Deuteronomy 29:5) Moses said, "I have led you 40 years in the wilderness; your clothes are not waxen upon you." We should be grateful for our non-waxen (clean) clothes. In Revelation 7:14, the ones who come through the tribulation "have washed their robes." The people who do laundry, who are "clothed with righteousness," live deeper, fuller lives.
___ In his 17th century classic of Christian devotion, "The Practice of the Presence of God," Brother Lawrence tells of discovering God while washing pots and pans: "I possess God as peacefully in the bustle of my kitchen as I do upon my knees before the Holy Sacrament. My faith becomes enlightened. It seems to me that the curtain of obscurity is drawn, and that the endless cloudless day of the other life is dawning."
___ We can only imagine how enlightened he would have been if, instead of the kitchen, he had been in charge of the laundry.
___ Brett Younger is pastor of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco.
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