Getting to know Hardships

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.