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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Cup and Saucer (08/28/14)
In spite of the fact that I am a stay-at-home mom, or perhaps because of it, I acutely dislike washing dishes. In fact, you might say that I despise it. But as every homemaker knows, there is no escape from the loathsome job. True, the dishwasher vastly improves the task, but there seem to exist a plethora of mixing bowls, pots, and insulated mugs that are better off hand washed. Every few days my counter fills up with these dreaded items, and the moment seizes me - I have to wash them or go crazy. (And yes, I hear those muffled sniggers from my family members indicating their disbelief that I profess to be sane to begin with.) Yesterday I arrived at one of those do or die moments. I filled the sink with hot soapy water and adeptly fended off the additions to the sink that my children thought necessary, such as crayons, stickers, and toy cars. My last two items to wash were covered Tupperware containers, the type that my husband uses for his lunch. Generally I rinse those as soon as they make their way to the counter to avoid the overwhelming stench that can build up in a closed container in the heat of summer. I popped the innocuous white lid off of one Tupperware and quickly swung my head away, hand seeking to protect my nostrils from the assault. This was no rinsed out dish; it appeared that I had assumed it was empty, left it covered and subsequently placed it on the counter for washing. And even more apparently, there was one piece of comestible that had lingered inside for some time. It took me a minute to identify it as a hunk of cheese, covered as it was with verdigris splotches.

I would like to say that I immediately was reminded of Jesus' scathing metaphor of the cup and saucer, clean on the outside and full of filth on the inside, but it was lost on me for the moment as I turned from the sink and hung my torso over the kitchen island to recover myself. It was only later as I read Jesus' words in Matthew 23:25, that I recalled the incident. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean." (ESV) If greed and self-indulgence smell anything like that half-rotten cheese, then they most certainly are vile traits. And almost every day of my life I understand a bit more just how vile. You see, growing up, I thought of myself as largely good, stainless, and unoffending. Just like that dish, my outer self appeared so - not a spot of violence, rage, foul language, drunkenness, and certainly not witchcraft, adultery, or fornication. In time the Spirit began to teach me that simply the belief that I was "good" was itself a stinking blot seething within that vessel. What a relief to realize that I didn't need to desperately labor to conceal that blemish. If I would only acknowledge my imperfection, just say "Yes, it's there. Yes, I am a common sinner!" then the Spirit would help me find forgiveness and a change of attitude.

I ended up taking that container out to the back yard and scraping out the rubbery cheese with a conveniently accessible wood chip. (Maybe the skunks will appreciate it more than I did.) After rinsing it out gingerly with the hose, I placed it in my sink and scrubbed it with hot soapy water and a dash of bleach. Now it's as good as new, and assuredly God can likewise cleanse and make you new you if you choose to acknowledge the repugnant, moldy cheese festering inside your vessel.
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This article has been read 741 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
09/04/14
What can I say about this magnificently written and delivered piece of brilliant writing??? One word...EXCELLENT!

Your descriptive start (replete with fabulous choice of words!) gave way to an all too important message that was enveloped by your segue ultimately leading to a dynamic wrap-up.

Amazing work...prolific style of writing. You will not be in this level too long. I'm thinking you might have chosen the wrong level to begin with. Look at the guidelines for where to start again.

In any case.

I loved it!

God bless~
Larry Whittington
09/05/14
It started off kinda slow but it gained intensity and soon was read at a steady interesting pace.

I liked your application.

I am glad those 3000 or so saw what they needed to do in Acts chapter 2 to get rid of their sin that Peter told them about.

This was a cute personal interest article that would interest many who have the same problem.
Noel Mitaxa 
09/05/14
Great job. You've taken us on a relentless fun trip that even neat-freaks could pause to enjoy before they rush to judgement.
Without joining the ranks of those neat-freaks, I'd suggest that you toss in (a neat-freak would say "carefully position") two or three more paragraph breaks for your readers before you pounce on us with yet another gem.
I also feel that you will not stay at this level for long.
Rachel Barrett
09/08/14
Oh boy, that was delightful. I absolutely feel your pain about husbands' lunch Tupperware. Ha ha!!

I would add a second vote for maybe some shorter paragraphs, but it could be just me. :)

How entertaining, and such a clever way of presenting a strong message! And I love your fun words.
Brenda Rice
09/11/14
Well, if you are in Level One much longer, I will be surprised.

This is excellent writing. Your choice of words and phrases are great. Creative use of the topic and the Word of God.

Thanks for sharing.
Sheldon Bass 
09/11/14
I loved the message that comes across in this piece! Certainly we all must come to understand our need for God's grace and the super cleanser of Jesus' shed blood.

As I first started reading I thought it was going to bore me to tears, talking about washing dishes. But then as you began to relate it to spiritual cleansing you had me. And yes, only God is good!

A couple tips: I'd break the first and second paragraphs up into at least two more paragraphs. Some readers will pass it by and not read it simply because of long paragraphs.

And you did splendid in relating your own testimony of realizing the need for cleansing, but in the end you pointed it outward towards the reader. Personally I don't mind that, but many folks take that as being preachy and find it abrasive (conviction?). I learned that one the hard way!

Overall good entry! You definitely have a great talent for writing. Keep it coming!