A Diversion From The Chaos
Wash Your Hands With Gratitude
by Eric Elkin
Have you washed your hands today? If not, perhaps you should learn Captain Carl's song to help remind you. Captain Carl (played by Phil Hartman) was a character on Pee-Wee Herman's 1981 HBO Comedy Special. When Pee Wee asked Captain Carl if he washed his hands after going to the bathroom, Captain Carl sings,
Oh, a sailor travels to many lands,
any place he pleases,
but he always remembers to wash his hands,
so he don't get no diseases.
When you wash your hands, how much water do you use? Early on in the COVID-19 battle, a friend talked about conserving water when you wash. Until he said something, I had not really thought about it. Most of us turn on the water, apply soap, scrub, and rinse. However, we leave the water running the entire time.
If everyone washes more often and for more extended periods, we will use more water. Most of the water where I live comes from underground wells. Overuse will place a greater burden on our water supply. Ever since reading his comments, I think about how much water I use when washing my hands.
I never considered running out of water a real possibility. It seemed like some unrealistic hippie environmentalist doomsday prediction. Then, Cape Town, South Africa, experienced a severe water crisis. How could a city of nearly 4 million people run out of water? Few realize it, but several U.S. states could be facing the same type of issue.
How often do you think about your source of water? The only people who tend to consider their water source are people who depend upon it for survival, like farmers. In urban areas, it is merely a bill to pay. Even then, we wonder why something so abundant and free costs us money.
We take water for granted. Every time we turn on the faucet, we expect it to be there for us. Yet, in the big picture, it is one of the rarest commodities in our solar system. Earth is the only planet known to have liquid water. Other planets are either too hot or too cold to provide inhabitants drinking water. Liquid water is why this planet has "countless creatures - living things, both large and small."
We need water to wash our hands, "so we don't get no diseases." We also need it for life. Sixty percent of the human body is comprised of water. This level of water needs to be maintained for us to be healthy and alive. And, how can anyone survive a hot summer without water to splash in?
Some scientists will argue God did not bring us the water. I would say it depends on your understanding of God. Regardless of how it got here, water is a gift. It is a blessing placed on this planet long before the creepy crawly things could wiggle.
If you are going crazy listening to fake news, or the latest conspiracy theory, consider a diversion from the chaos. When you wash your hands today, consider the gifts you take for granted. You may just find that your life is overflowing in beauty. Then you'll understand why the psalmist says, "Let the Lord's glory last forever!"
Click to read Psalm 104: 24-34
Reflection Questions:
When have you built something with your hands?
How much joy did it bring your soul? And, how long did that joy last?
How often do you notice the created world and its creatures when dwelling in the human-made world?
Where do you find beauty, joy, and peace in creation?