Mike Criswell
Monday is “wash day.” I could just stop there, and that would pretty much say it all! I mean, who in their right mind likes “wash day?” You know the drill – strip the sheets from the beds, gather the towels, put them in the washing machine, then put them in the dryer or out on the clothesline. And then, after it's all over, it's time to reverse the process. On one hand it’s certainly not something that I personally enjoy. It takes a lot of time and is just part of the mundane chores of living. But on the other hand, it's necessary!
Actually “Wash Day” carries various connotations to various folks. In researching the term, I learned that my African American sisters have a special day called “Wash Day,” which is dedicated solely to washing and beautifying their hair. I think that’s kinda neat! I mean, from a religious perspective, a woman’s hair is her God-given glory (1 Corinthians 11:15). I like it when people care enough about themselves to take care of the body God gave them. And if one thinks that washing clothes is hard, I can’t even imagine the patience and tediousness a lady goes through in caring for her hair. Ladies, I admire you!
But whether “wash day” refers to washing clothes or grooming one’s hair, the point is basically the same. In life, a lot of tasks seem meaningless and mundane. Most chores take time away from what we would rather be doing. However, in reality, to think of “work” as a burden may be missing the point. Let me explain.
From the very beginning, God created humans to be busy. My dad used to say that an idle mind was a devil’s workshop. I think he may have been right. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve to tend the plants. Adam was given the job of naming the animals. And Eve had tasks, too, as she helped her husband. In other words, they worked! It wasn’t until Adam and Eve took their focus off the tasks God gave them that Satan edged his way into the picture.
Now, here is the rub! Work is good for a variety of reasons. It keeps our minds off of ourselves. It keeps our minds focused and productive. It exercises our creativity not only in completing a task but even in figuring out ways to complete it faster and more efficiently. Our labor can bless others as we share what we have created. Furthermore, work can be a very enlightening social time. Some of the best conversations one can have occur when we are working with others on a mutual project. Work has benefits that we may have never considered before.
Well, I could go on and on. But the point is that from a Christian perspective, work is a blessing given to us by God. Sure, some tasks are not as pleasurable as others. But “work” was God’s gift even before Adam and Eve fell into sin. One old preacher used to say, “Adam’s fall didn’t create work, it just took the fun out of it.” Well, I don’t know about that. But sin did create a more hostile environment for humans. God told Adam that he would have to “work” by the sweat of his brow. But at the end of the day, whether it’s doing laundry on Monday or grooming one’s hair, tasks can be a source of blessing. God knew what He was doing when he created “Wash Day.” And so rather than looking at our chores as drudgery, let’s look at them as a gift. We have been gifted with a mind and body that needs to work! Even those boring tasks that require repetition and monotony may actually be the doorway to meditation and silent prayer to our Lord.
Keep up the good work!
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