Open Book

11. Shake Off the Rashness

Like any place on earth and in any culture, there are things passed down unto us, things we have been taught of since young. Some things are true and beautiful, other rise up some questions. There are certain sayings or traditions that nobody knows about their source anymore, so all left to do is just to discern their fruit and where those sayings or traditions lead the people in the end.

And there are also habits that are build up with time. Two of them I'd say is the cleaning and preparations. No, it not wrong to do deep cleaning and organizing one's property. However, if one goes overboard and spends most energy and time on cleaning/preparations during Christmas or Passover weeks too (before the feasts)... Well, then there's the need to stop and take a look at this way of doing things. It might not totally be your case and mine; but let's take me as an example.

     I have a guest who is very dear to me and I don't want him to be in a filthy environment, so I go about arranging this and that. "Oh this carpet hasn't been washed for a long time now. I better take care of it." I think, and go about doing it. After that I stop and look ahead, "Those curtains look kinda old and ragged, I better get some new ones," and so I do. "What shall I feed him with? It has to be something special and delicious." And I set myself to choose some good meals, desserts, drinks and even the decoration. By the time my guest arrives everything is ready and nicely done, but, his knock is heard at the door sooner than I had expected! Surprised and stunned, I open up sweaty with a messed up hair. Having been busy with thos festive season, I didn't had time to even shower that day. The dust and dirt of things around were now all over me. At that moment shame grips me. He came to spend this Passover with me, mainly, and I present myself unprepared. But being understandable of my situation even then, he waits until I get myself prepared too. Taking a chair, he sits down and gives some glenses at the surroundings. The food he noticed makes him deeply grateful but he's eagerly awaiting me, attentive at each little movement. This guest is a gentleman and a best friend on my top list. He in fact is a King, he's God. And I am his house, his dwelling place. So, my own house I cleaned and arranged it, but his house and temple  was unprepared (me).

So, during those weeks I've spent mostly on preparations, it would've be a beautiful gift to Him to just lay down my rushed activities and simply spend time with him (reminds me now of Martha and Mary). Cleaning, yes, cleaning the windows of my soul; the dust off of my heart; removing those dirty spots I'd notice and even going into a general cleaning deep within the spirit; changing curtains to allow more light to come inside; applying the love-paint on whatever needs to be adjusted; cutting and throwing things I didn't need, etc. One week with no other unnecessary distractions and entanglements to snatch me out from near him; outer rushed activities moderated and allowing myself  to breathe and appreciate life and the Guest. I've noticed that oftentimes so much of what we do, after a day or two, it's back to its former state and the amount of energy spent on them flew by as nothing accomplished. And there we find ourselves sighing deeply, feeling force to do it again. The rustle and bustle of it all leaves a soul dead weary! But in the quietness of the heart the soul finds God everywhere around and hears His voice in one's own thoughts too.

As an end, isn't it better to take some good time in the mornings (or whenever it might be), and firstly fellowship with HIM, and then take care of our temporary houses? Because just the way it is with washing dishes, normally we clean first the inside, the most important part, then the outside which is less dirty. Because think it like this; our homes are spotlessly clean and organized but then the next hours a hurricane, a flood comes and destroys things from foundation. Smashing down walls and dishes, fancy cups and important paintings, TV useless and wet now, video games destroyed, etc. Nothing is left intact. The only thing standing is you. So perceiving it; you are more important than the house made of bricks, wood and windows. And just like the hurricane or that flood didn't wait and came in unexpectedly so can we be taken unexpectedly from this planet. Really. And rather than meeting Him up there in a disordered state, feeling ashamed we didn't took some moments whileon earth... Wouldn't it be much better, putting a smile on your face and His, to stand before Him clean and prepared, meeting Him now in His forever awesome house, your  forever home?

Yes, those inner cleansings aren't to be done solely around Passover or Christmas feasts - anytime would do, the more frequent the better! But as you can guess these feasts are special and cherished by this dear Guest, and he desires to have us better in heart matters too - he'd want to share that joy with you and I after all.