washing

 For the second day in a row I got my washing out on the line.  Im pretty sure that some of you will join me in feeling a bit happy and a bit satisfied and a bit optimistic when the washing starts to go outside in the spring.  For a start it means that the sun is probably shining ( or at least it means its not likely to rain for a few hours)  It also means that the washing can dry in the breeze with that fresh, quick, less-to-iron, way.  And whilst I really do despise housework in all its forms, I have to confess that there is something quite satisfying about pegging things out on the line.  ( Dont get me started on the way Keith does it  LOL !!)   

As I stood looking at the washing yesterday it occurred to me that hanging out washing is one of the most ancient and longstanding tasks we do.  People have been draping washing over hedges and hanging things over lines for thousands of years.  Pegs were invented in about 1800 and havent really changed much in design over the ensuing hundreds of years.  Despite the invention of the tumble dryer, hanging out the washing is still the cheapest, nicest and oldest way of getting stuff dry.

I love the thought of carrying on a tradition.  We have lost so much of the wisdom of the past but I know that my great grandmother and my granny and my Mum all hung out their washing and Ive inherited their way of doing it ( shirts always hung from the bottom, pants use one peg only, socks always paired together and hung with one peg 😊)

The Bible has lots to say about washing clothes.  Leviticus is full of commandments to wash all garments which come into contact with sickness, blood or death.  In the days before anyone knew much about how infection spreads God was making sure that His people stayed healthy.  They probably wondered why on earth they were being asked to wash stuff so often.  There must have been a lot of washing hanging out all over the place in Israel.   By the time of the New Testament washing was a full time industry and whole areas of towns were dedicated to the fullers - those who made soap and then literally stamped the dirt out of wool and fabric.

When Jesus comes back we are told He is coming as a refiners fire and fullers soap.  He is coming back for a bride who is spotless and without blemish.  If we sometimes feel like we have been thrown in a washing machine or trampled and squished by our circumstances and life events, then maybe its because we are in that cleansing and purifying process.  But for all the days when we are being churned up, there are other days when we are hung out in the sunshine and the breeze of His presence to fly.   And generations of people who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and by the water of the word will make up the beautiful white and spotless wedding garment which we will wear on the final day.