"Wash Me"

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness, 

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You..." 

Psalm 51:7-13

     It was one of those days-where my mom and I had packed up all the kids and we were headed for Costco and Trader Joe's.  We stopped to get gas in town, and they have recently added one of those fancy new "car washes."  My mom gently pointed out that our car was in *ahem* desperate need of a wash.  So, for $8, we got about 8 minutes of total entertainment.  Judah was a little scared, but comforted sweetly by big sister.

     But it got me thinking...sometimes, we are just driving around in our big white Suburban, unaware of how filthy we have become.  The dirt piles up slowly, and before we know it, we are covered in it.  I loved sitting inside the car, hearing the water beat down upon us, seeing that white foam soap cover the car, even feeling the power of the air beating against that big tank of a car as it dried it off....It all reminded me of our God, and His desire to wash us in His word, and the power of His Spirit to make all things new.  Sometimes, it is through His washing that although, He may not take away the things that are causing sadness or pain or momentary difficulty, He does infuse us with the power to have joy in the midst of the washing.