Wax On - Wax Off - Oh, My Aching Back - God Wax?
Posted: Saturday, December 19, 2009
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
As the pastor of a small church, I have the privilege of being able to take care of things that other people either can't, won't, or don't know how. I wear more hats than I can count on my two hands and feet. Just some of my "other duties as required" allows me to function as: gardener, plumber, painter, maintenance man, interior decorator, cook, secretary, receptionist, public relations specialist, marketing specialist, counselor, copy machine repair man... You get the idea.
Well, today was one of those days when I got to function as a janitor. Not that I mind doing janitorial tasks. But, today wasn't about cleaning out toilets, or emptying trash cans or vacuuming the sanctuary. Oh no, about a week ago a couple people got together and decided that the Fellowship Hall was in dire need of a new wax job. Those "couple of people" would be me... and somebody else. Yep, he talked me right into it.
So, understanding how these things generally go, I began yesterday. I folded up tables, and chairs, and stacked them all neatly on a platform. I pulled out the buffing machine, the stripper, mops, buckets and wax. Then, today about midday, a couple of guys actually showed up and we got to work stripping the old wax off the floor... hour after endless hour, of mopping, stripping, mopping, stripping.
Well, after about four hours of this, the other volunteers had to leave. So, there I was... still stripping old wax off the floor with a buffing machine and mopping it up. Well, after a few more hours of this, my back began reminding me that I am just not quite as young as I used to be. That was about the time I realized something that I thought was quite significant.
You see, Jesus too, was a janitor, among other things. His blood is like the stripping compound that removes the old grime and dirt and wax off of the floor. Except, His blood removes the old grime and dirt and residue of sin from our life. And, boy, if I thought my back was hurting me from what I was doing, it killed Jesus! He poured out His life to clean me up.
When I finally started applying the wax I realized that this too was like something the Lord had given us... the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit seals us, protects us, sanctifies us, gives us strength and beauty in the Lord. We can have some comfort after waxing a floor, knowing that if there is a little spill that it should wipe up relatively easily without ruining the tile. Well, the same is true with the Holy Spirit, He comforts us, when we have little spills with sin they can easily be wiped away and removed.
I sure am glad that I can be a janitor pastor - jack of all trades. It provides me with so many opportunities to see what the Lord has done for us. Hey... there's a leak in the ceiling, up on the second floor! I wonder what interesting thing the Lord will teach me when I get up there to fix it?
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More commentsGood demonstration in metaphoric writing. I'm quite fond of metaphors myself. I'm sure you are good at your jobs- all of them- or is it Jack of all trades- master of none? LOL- EllaP.S.- Keep on working- It's good for the soul!Hi Ella,Thank you for your kind comments. You made me laugh. Hope all is well with you there in Texas!Mark
Be sure you have the ladder totally secured for that leak repair! Keep being teachable and sharing with us!! MarijoHi Marijo,Good to hear from you. Ladder? What ladder? I was going to stack some desks and chairs and strrrrretch.God bless you,Mark
Jesus was reputed to have been a carpenter by trade so it all somehow makes sense.Thanks Paul,Good to hear from you. How have you been?Merry Christmas to you!MarkI am up to my armpits snowbound and moribund; my wheels must need be replaced with runners!Speaking of enforced downhill slaloming, I didn't know that you were a man of the cloth.(I don't mean corduroy. )A blessed Christmas to you, too!Well, hope a big thaw comes your way.Corduroy... nah. I believe in my case it would be pig skin. HaSomething not too kosher about that as a garment(Do orthodox Jews and Muslims who play in football games wear gloves?)Latex to the rescue.Now THERE'S a sermon starter!
Mark this was a wonderful, wise and witty read. Your congregation is blessed to have you. Our Lord is the teacher of all teachers
Blessings to you brother, this Christmas season.Hi Edward,Thank you for your very nice comments. I appreciate them and your testimony.God bless you too! And a very Merry ChristmasMark
Great read - isn't it amazing though how the ball ends up in your court? It can be said that if you want the job done give it to a busy person. Since you wear those numerous hats, it can be said that you are a busy person, indeed. And you get the job done! Thing is, you needed to pin down the next "work date" before anyone had the chance to duck out ---
Hi OGM,Thanks for your comments. I received your DM at Twitter and am looking forward to Tweeting with you. Have a great day.Mark
I thought this article was funny, witty and well written and was not as terrifying as most of a religious persuasion.Hi Carol,Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you saw some humor in the article. Hope all is going well with you.Blessings,Mark
Great writing Mark. I really enjoy your work. Thanks for another great truth. We all are jack of all trades, are'nt we!Hi Anthony,Thank you very much.Mark Parsec
Hi Anthony,Yes, we are all things to all people. Thanks for your comments.God bless you,Mark
Great article. I have had similar experiences as yours.
One of the things I've found in stripping and waxing floors is that, if all the old crud in the cracks between the tiles isn't removed and neutralized, is seeps up through the new wax and ruins the beautiful shine.
But it's a lifelong process; each time we get stripped and re-waxed it gets a little better, and the shine last longer.
Best of all, we can share our experience with others who are feeling a little muddy and dirty, or sad and discouraged. Every person we meet has a beautiful shine just waiting to be scrubbed up and waxed to perfection!Hi Big D,Great observations. Thank you for adding your comments.God bless you,Mark
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