There is a wonderful Zen story about a monk—new to the monastery—who asks the master what he should do. The master asks if he’s eaten his rice. The new monk says yes, he has eaten. The master says, “Then wash your bowl.”
It was a story I heard growing up. It’s meant to be meditated on, but a simple lesson from it is to focus on the now and take care of each mess as you make it. What an honorable quest! What an admirable lifestyle!
Then there is me and my reality. Rather than the “dirty a bowl, wash a bowl” style, our family subscribes to the “let the sink collect dirty bowls until it’s overfull.” I love to cook and seem to use as many bowls as they do on cooking shows. My teenage son prefers to get a fresh dish for each bowl of cereal, and he’s been known to go through a box of cereal in a day.
If you do the math on our bowl use, you can see my spiritual aspiration is in conflict with my reality. We bought a new dishwasher this week.
It will free up at least a half-hour a day of washing. We will be glad to have the machine’s help. I hope I still wash by hand once in a while. It does me good.
From mundane to devotional
My hands plunge in the warm, soapy water; I restore the dirty to clean. A mess of dishes becomes a rack of organized utensils. Cups stand proud next to one another. Forks mingle with spoons like a friendly cocktail hour. Plates look like railings on the deck, even and upright.
As I wash, I look at the sill above the sink. It is a three-inch altar. I keep my treasures there. I have a rock that says Love Much from my friend, B., a souvenir from a morning when we watched Who Does She Think She Is, a documentary on women artists. It reminds me to love much and be strong in my art!
Another rock on the sill from a summertime trip with my childhood friend, A., encourages, Shine!
The star of the sill is the aloe plant. My aloe was from a church member, C., who brings in batches of the babies to share with us at church. She was in a small group with Susie, the original grower of the aloe. Although Susie has gone to glory, her bright spirit, her generosity and her plants—Susie’s babies—live on through her friends. The plant now reminds me of friendship and how friendships thrive with close personal care just like plants. My aloe has outgrown its pot. It needs to be split and repotted. I will be able to pass on one of Susie’s babies.
Next to the green aloe stands the red Dala horse. My parents got it for me during their trip to the factory in Sweden. Similar to my live red horse outside the kitchen window, it cheers me up with its pert ears and neat style.
A crystal and a cross hang in the window. My mom always hung crystals in all her kitchens to make rainbows. When the sun shines, we have rainbows the size of thumbnails sprinkled through the kitchen.
A little kitschy—a lot fun—I recently added a little apron to our soap bottle. I’m happy to see that we don’t take our decor too seriously! Each time I use the soap, the well-dressed bottle charms me.
It can be a troubling world with intense pressures, needs from family members and news of shootings. You can make the places you frequent in your home into safe havens. Add reminders of people you love and say blessings for them. With visible reminders of faith, you can feel protected as you face daily tasks.
We can’t change our chores. We will eat and make dirty dishes, sometimes by the dozens! But we can change our space to amuse and support our spirit while we tackle our tasks.
As Brother Lawrence says, “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”
Blessing
Lord, keep us in small ways: a cozy home
with all the comforts of ordinary days.
Let us remember a safe home
with nourishing meals and hot water
are bigger blessings that we realize.
When we see dirty dishes,
remind us you are with us in our daily chores and repeated tasks.
You reveal what is real in soapy water and kitchen sink meditations.
Tell me your thoughts!
Do you have a place where you already feel peaceful and protected? Where else in your home—maybe the laundry room or a bathroom sink—could be a place to add reminders to pray or praise God? Which items can you find that would link you to happy memories or positive relationships? What would bring you a smile?
Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered in a drawing to win one of my handmade soap bottle aprons! I will draw on Friday (Jan. 17, 2014) afternoon. Good luck! 😀
***Thanks to everybody who left a comment! I appreciated reading them all. This contest has concluded. I’ve tagged the winner in the comments below!***
Light to grow in; reflections by Genevieve Howard 
I loved this post and the story you began with. My kitchen sink includes a handmade washcloth by G. My bathroom reminds me to start each day with prayer. Homes can be sacred places.
😀 Thank you! It sounds like you have a very supportive space. May your home continue to bless you in 2014!
Really enjoyed this post. Who doesn’t sigh at the thought of doing dishes? I don’t have a beautiful windowsill for an altar to meditate on but I do have a piece of glassware that my mom treasured sitting out near the sink (mostly because I haven’t found a good place for it!) I will try and remember to use it as a reminder to be more contemplative doing the dishes (at least some of the time!)
I really appreciated your comment. Even if it’s only once in a while, contemplation brings peace. One extra moment of reflection weekly will be 52 more this year 😀 Thanks for your thoughts here!
I have a spare bedroom, that although I really should convert to a boy’s room since my sons are getting old enough to require their ‘own’ space, I’ve painted pink and added things from my childhood. A doll I packed around for several years, my small purple couch from college, and my vintage ladies hats that I started collecting several years ago. I go in there and lay on the old quilt on the bed and relax in the whole ‘girlness’ of the room. It’s the only place in the house that doesn’t reek of sports and boys – LOL 🙂 Heaven.
This sounds wonderful!! Just the sanctuary to reconnect with your child side and refresh your playfulness. I would love to have a tea party with a tiny china tea set (remember those?? :D) there with you! Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for the inspiration. My kitchen window has a small stained glass angel and sunrise ( from the college I attended years ago), and a crystal from Mom hangs nearby to catch the sun. Outside the window are bird feeders my husband put up for me so I would have a pleasant view. I won’t say I love doing dishes, but it does make the task more enjoyable to have things that remind you that you are loved. My niece sends me your posts when she thinks there is one that really hits home. She was right on for this one and it’s feels good to know she thinks about me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I really appreciated this line…”things that remind you that you are loved.” It sounds like a wonderful space with a crystal, wild birds and an angel. Blessings to you in 2014!
Oh, I love all the little reminders you have for happiness at your ‘altar.’ I don’t really have anything like that anywhere except for a Willow Tree woman and horse plaque on my desk to remind me of my childhood horse who passed away while I was in college. I might have to add some more reminders of happiness and joy.
These sound lovely! It’s a wonderful tribute to your equine friend. Thank you for sharing your thoughts here!
Love your “kitchen altar” with memories those little (big) things remind you of and lift you up! While I don’t have any one spot like that in my home – I have a plethora of knickknacks that as I dust and move them around, bring back warm memories and encouraging thoughts – a ceramic tea set made by my Mom, a picture of my Dad in his favorite chair that I have sitting next to his Mother’s bible (reminds me of all the times Dad and I debated and discussed scripture together and the lessons he taught me), a collection of nutcrackers that dear friends brought back for us from Germany – reminders of wonderful times together , and lots of books like my Dad’s favorites that we shared. I could go on but for now — thank you for your sharing and reminding me of all those “little big things”. Blessings! Pat
Pat, how wonderful! I could really envision all your beloved items that make your home supportive. Thank you for telling us about them and leaving your thoughts. Bless you!
***Thanks to everybody who left a comment! This giveaway has concluded. Shoshannah F., you are the lucky soap bottle apron winner!***
I loved your description of the jaunty, newly-washed dishes. It makes me want to go check on the utensils in my drying rack and make sure they’re having fun.
Thank you for your delightful comment. I can imagine your kitchen is a active, happy place! 😀
I have one of those red horses too! My grandma brought it back to me from her trip.
That’s awesome–they are so cheery!