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Getting Clean Without a Shower

By Amy Lanum | posted 10/04/2007

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

I am not a neat freak, but clutter and dirt make me cranky. This became apparent to me a few weeks ago when we had our bathroom remodeled due to a water leak. It was one of those "projects" that we thought would take a few days and ended up taking a few weeks. At one point during the remodel, our one working shower was unavailable for use for 5 days. Before you feel too sorry for me or my family, you should know that I have three boys - ages, 10, 7 and 4 living in my house. Not having a working shower is not an inconvenience to them. In fact, for them, it's a bonus week with no parent bugging them to wash behind their ears or reminding them use both soap AND shampoo.

For me, the first day without a shower wasn't too bad. I could wash my hair in our kitchen sink - after removing a few dirty dishes. Lotion and deodorant seemed to cover any unwanted odor. I was actually up and out the door quicker than most normal mornings and that was a plus. Then, the next day came and I had that "I've been camping" feeling. I did the sponge bath thing as best I could but I was getting whiney and grumpy.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why didn't you shower at a friend or family member's house? I'm sure someone would let you use their shower." Or maybe you agree with my husband's alternative, "Why don't you go work out at the Y and then take a shower?" (I'm not sure he knows that I avoid working out as much as my boys avoid taking showers.) Don't get me wrong, I had plenty of offers to go to other people's houses and use their showers. No, I, the shower martyr, waited 5 long days before I was so crabby and disheveled, that I loaded up the family and went over to my parents' house (a whopping 3 miles away) and took a lovely, long, hot shower. It was very nice and I was very happy afterwards. After my refreshing cleansing, I asked myself the same question, "Why didn't I just go over to someone's house and shower sooner?" I had three answers:

  1. I kept thinking the shower was going to be done. Rather than gather all my showering paraphernalia and going somewhere else, each day I was hoping our shower would be ready with all of my things right nearby.
  2. I was too busy. As a teacher with two teaching jobs the first week of September is spent getting ready for the school year and helping my own kids get ready for their school. There was no time to drive over to someone's house for a shower.
  3. I thought I could do without. People all over the world live without running water. What makes me so special that I think I "need" a shower to keep my attitude adjusted?

As I contemplated my excuses, I realized this wasn't the first time I had used them. I use them with God as well, when it comes to confessing my sin. He wants me to confess my sins; to wash off the gunk so I can be forgiven. He wants me to be spiritually "clean".

1 John 1:9 ... "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

John reminds me that just as my friends offered a way for me to get clean in their shower, Jesus offers me a way to get clean as well - his forgiveness. Yet, just as I did with the shower offers, I'm constantly coming up with similar excuses:

  1. I'm sure it'll be done soon. I'm sure there will time to confess my sins to you in church on Sunday. If not, maybe in Bible Study. I'll just wait until then.
  2. I'm a little too busy to be confessing my sins right now. Can't you just bless me and I'll be on my way?
  3. I can do without confession right now thanks. There are people that sin WAY more than me and they probably need it more anyway.

When, I stop making excuses and pour out my heart to God, I am refreshed and invigorated. God loves me in spite of the sin and dirt I have in my life. When I confess, He forgives me and washes me clean each time. I need that confession. I need to take His offer and allow myself to be "showered" with His love and forgiveness.

I'm enjoying my shower in my remodeled bathroom now (thank you Chris Peterson). I'm also enjoying confessing the dirt and gunk in my life to God each day and allowing Him to wash me clean - on the inside.

Amy

To respond to this message, email Amy at amy.lanum@verizon.net.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

I am not a neat freak, but clutter and dirt make me cranky. This became apparent to me a few weeks ago when we had our bathroom remodeled due to a water leak. It was one of those "projects" that we thought would take a few days and ended up taking a few weeks. At one point during the remodel, our one working shower was unavailable for use for 5 days. Before you feel too sorry for me or my family, you should know that I have three boys - ages, 10, 7 and 4 living in my house. Not having a working shower is not an inconvenience to them. In fact, for them, it's a bonus week with no parent bugging them to wash behind their ears or reminding them use both soap AND shampoo.

For me, the first day without a shower wasn't too bad. I could wash my hair in our kitchen sink - after removing a few dirty dishes. Lotion and deodorant seemed to cover any unwanted odor. I was actually up and out the door quicker than most normal mornings and that was a plus. Then, the next day came and I had that "I've been camping" feeling. I did the sponge bath thing as best I could but I was getting whiney and grumpy.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why didn't you shower at a friend or family member's house? I'm sure someone would let you use their shower." Or maybe you agree with my husband's alternative, "Why don't you go work out at the Y and then take a shower?" (I'm not sure he knows that I avoid working out as much as my boys avoid taking showers.) Don't get me wrong, I had plenty of offers to go to other people's houses and use their showers. No, I, the shower martyr, waited 5 long days before I was so crabby and disheveled, that I loaded up the family and went over to my parents' house (a whopping 3 miles away) and took a lovely, long, hot shower. It was very nice and I was very happy afterwards. After my refreshing cleansing, I asked myself the same question, "Why didn't I just go over to someone's house and shower sooner?" I had three answers:

  1. I kept thinking the shower was going to be done. Rather than gather all my showering paraphernalia and going somewhere else, each day I was hoping our shower would be ready with all of my things right nearby.
  2. I was too busy. As a teacher with two teaching jobs the first week of September is spent getting ready for the school year and helping my own kids get ready for their school. There was no time to drive over to someone's house for a shower.
  3. I thought I could do without. People all over the world live without running water. What makes me so special that I think I "need" a shower to keep my attitude adjusted?

As I contemplated my excuses, I realized this wasn't the first time I had used them. I use them with God as well, when it comes to confessing my sin. He wants me to confess my sins; to wash off the gunk so I can be forgiven. He wants me to be spiritually "clean".

1 John 1:9 ... "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

John reminds me that just as my friends offered a way for me to get clean in their shower, Jesus offers me a way to get clean as well - his forgiveness. Yet, just as I did with the shower offers, I'm constantly coming up with similar excuses:

  1. I'm sure it'll be done soon. I'm sure there will time to confess my sins to you in church on Sunday. If not, maybe in Bible Study. I'll just wait until then.
  2. I'm a little too busy to be confessing my sins right now. Can't you just bless me and I'll be on my way?
  3. I can do without confession right now thanks. There are people that sin WAY more than me and they probably need it more anyway.

When, I stop making excuses and pour out my heart to God, I am refreshed and invigorated. God loves me in spite of the sin and dirt I have in my life. When I confess, He forgives me and washes me clean each time. I need that confession. I need to take His offer and allow myself to be "showered" with His love and forgiveness.

I'm enjoying my shower in my remodeled bathroom now (thank you Chris Peterson). I'm also enjoying confessing the dirt and gunk in my life to God each day and allowing Him to wash me clean - on the inside.

Amy

To respond to this message, email Amy at amy.lanum@verizon.net.