At no time today did a shower sound
appealing, but at this moment it seems especially detestable. Normally it is very warm here during the day,
but not this day. Today held mostly
clouds and this evening cooled down even more by the aid of a drizzling rain. I know that when I go to get my shower cold rain
water off the roof and a little soap will be what awaits me. My courage slightly fails. I don’t mind a cold shower at all when it is
warm outside, but when the air temperature is anything but hot I would rather
do almost anything else. Remembering
Moriah’s saying about waiting for courage (“The longer you wait for courage the
less courage you will have.”)I get up and gather my things. Once in the bathroom I begin the chilling act
of undressing. Moriah is already
showering and the splashes from her water hitting the floor bounces to my
lags. I wonder if I am ready to face
this dreadfully cold water. What makes
it worse is the fact that I will be the one pouring this cold water on myself
with the aid of a cup.
I start with my hair. Upon the water touching my scalp an
instantaneous shiver races down my spine.
Running my fingers through my hair to making sure it is wet, they run
into a slimy blob. With slight disgust I
quickly pull my fingers away hoping that the slimy blob is not the worm that
Jessica was unable to retrieve from the bath water. Immediately I apply soap eager that maybe it
will kill the worm if that is truly what is in my hair. Moriah seeing the repugnance
written plainly on my face informs me that it was only my imagination, she too
had thought that she felt a worm on her back. What comfort, for all I know
there could have been two worms. Imagination or not I am ready to be done with
this shower. I suddenly find a faster speed and start washing my body. I splash
myself with water and the result is instant Goosebumps. I begin rubbing soap over my body. It would have been a quick process from there
if it had not been for the goosebumps. The
goosebumps acted as bristles and the soap clung to them like mud on shoes. I
soon realized that to get the soap off is going to be nothing short of
torture. Every time a drop of that water hits my skin,
my breath finds a convenient reason to take a vacation. All I can do is slowly
pour water on my arm and scrub it off with my other hand. A short eternity elapses, or so it feels like,
of pouring and rubbing.
Once finished I proceed with drying
off which creates a challenge of its own.
I had burned the back of my neck on Wednesday from walking to town in
the intense sun and now the towel only helps in the aggravation of the already
painful. With caution I finish drying
off and get dressed. Well gathering my things I began realizing a very funny
fact, “I was still alive, that cold shower had not been the death of me! And
even if the water was cold I do feel better.”
As I begin pondering my shower I
remember something that Sister White wrote in her vision of the Narrow Way, “We
then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and
hardships. Where were such now? They
were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those
only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The
privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.”
{CET 181.1} Had my shower been either a privation or a hardship? No, not
really! Did I want to be in the company who made it to the Celestial city? Yes,
that was my fervent hope. Than a little cold water was a blessing from the Lord
to prepare me for a greater hardship.
With heart overflowing with gratitude I Praise God for the cold water,
the worm, and even my sunburn.
