(Blog 5 as I continue with stories from our trip to St. Kitts.)

During our visit with Jill and Andy on St. Kitts, we stayed at the Marriot Resort.  It was beautiful.  There were many buildings sprawling over several acres with palm trees and other flora planted everywhere.  And there were (only!) three pools to choose from, in addition to the biggest pool, the Atlantic Ocean.  Our room was lovely with a king size bed, beautiful ceramic tiled floor, a flat screen TV, a view, and a spacious bathroom.  The tub in the bathroom had whirlpool jets in it.  Woo Hoo!  There was a toilet (of course) and a bidet.  A WHAT?  A BIDET.  (“bih-day” for those of you unfamiliar)

(I now ask for forgiveness, in advance, for any bathroom humor this blog may contain.  But, I had to bring it up.  We disgusting Americans are just so unfamiliar with the European luxury of the bidet and, well, it’s just plain funny.  I’m sorry.)

I believe it was Groucho Marx who described a bidet as “taking a shower standing on your head.”  Okay.  They had to design it the way they did, I suppose, because the majority of people cannot stand on their heads.  The word ‘bidet’ comes from the French word for ‘pony’ … ha-ha … because you are supposed to sit on the bidet as if you were astride a pony.  (Ha-ha)  Jill and Andy checked it out.  We thought it would make a great basin for cleaning off dirty feet.  Later when I decided to turn it on to see what it did, the darn water shot up and hit me in the head!  (I guess you are supposed to sit first, and then turn on the water.)  I think it would make a great water fountain.  All snickers aside, I must admit it probably does a real fine job of getting you clean ‘down there’.  But then – it’s bad enough having to clean the toilet – if you have a bidet then there are TWO porcelain thrones to clean.  And, sure, you might save on toilet paper but you have to DRY yourself off afterwards.  Now you have more laundry to do – and poo-poo laundry.

Now I know what you are all wondering.   How is Laurel going to tie this one to anything biblical?

hahaha

Let’s talk here about forgiveness.  And having your sins forgiven.  Being ‘washed clean’.  (Hee hee – I did it!)

But seriously.  We are all sinners.  And we all keep sinning.  Even in the Lord’s Prayer, we are told to pray every day to “forgive us our debts (or trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (or those who trespass against us)”.  I like the Lord’s Prayer but I think it is too benign and general.  Like – recite a quick prayer and all is forgiven.   The prayer is usually recited so quickly with a mass of people, it doesn’t even give us a chance to think about and reflect on the bad things we really have done.  It’s like getting a spit-shine washing of our filthy sins.  Sometimes, we really need to come clean and think about where we have erred, and what sins we are guilty of.  Only when we are conscious of our sins and aware of our trespasses can we truly give them over to God for forgiveness.  It’s like the bidet – washing those private hidden areas that only you and God know about – and really coming clean.  Sometimes a ‘mop n shine’ just doesn’t do it – time for a power-washing!

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Isaiah 1:16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.”

just Laurel