Beauty in the Dirty Work

Pondering John 13:6-17.

I grieved during the pandemic. First came the stage of denial. “This can’t be happening. It can’t possibly be that bad. Surely we will recover quickly.”

Next, I experienced depression. “Oh no! It’s really bad! Recovery is going to be slow and costly!” My loved ones were losing loved ones. Friends were testing positive.

One day would be good and the next would be sad.

I know some of my anxiousness was my fault. I would forget to focus on that which is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.” I would easily forget my kingdom perspective and shift my eyes downward to the things of this world.

During that dark period of time I began to reflect on how so many in our country have been given beautiful gifts that have been taken for granted. We’ve enjoyed security, comfort and the freedom to come and go. We’ve used our freedom of speech to excess. We’ve greedily taken our gifts and redefined them as rights. We’ve taken the gifts and ignored the Giver. I recognized my own ingratitude.

I discovered something else during the quarantine. As I was confined to my home, I realized I was truly created for relationship. I was also created in Christ Jesus to do good works. And I was facing unwanted limitations. The pandemic directly opposed everything God wanted for us.

I began to see this more clearly when I pondered Jesus’ example of washing feet. Jesus humbly bent down and washed the feet of every one of His disciples. He lovingly did the dirty work which required physical contact. He washed the dusty feet of the one who would betray Him. He washed the smelly feet of the one who would deny Him. He washed the dirty feet of the one who would doubt Him. He washed the feet of every one of those who would abandon Him in His loneliest, most difficult moment. Why?

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater that the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

We witnessed this kind of hands on service by many people during the pandemic, but none more clearly than the medical community. They fought on the front line. All I was asked to do was stay home, read a good book and relax. They were asked to heal, comfort, and care for those who carried the deadly virus and were frightened of the unknown. Working countless hours, these heroes considered others needs first.

They served as God’s coworkers, conduits of His loving touch. I hope they saw the beauty in the dirty work.

So yes, I was troubled because I was prohibited from enjoying relationships in the way I’d been accustomed. I was disappointed that opportunities to serve were more limited. But I learned new ways.

Grief morphed into anger. I became angry with the enemy who was pointedly at work stealing, killing and destroying. He killed too many. He robbed our children of security. He stole jobs. He tried to destroy hope and confidence. The list is extensive.

I become angry enough to start fighting and I learned a lot about courage. My prayers changed from a victim’s plea (yet those are crucial) to a warrior’s cry. I used Zoom, FaceTime, texts and phone calls to maintain relationships and to foster hope. Acts of service looked different as my eyes were fixed on the One who leads victoriously. And I watched for His resurrection power.

After all…If God is for us, who can be against us?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

Amen!

Question to ponder:

No matter the circumstance, how can I remain faithful to God’s call  to relationship and serving others?