Monday, June 20, 2005
Folding Towels
Today was a short day for me at work, but any day, even a short one becomes quite a drudgery when we have to restock the bargain oversized towel wall. (It isn't simply a rack with a couple of towels in about six colors.) This process is tedious and monotonous and any "ous" that you can come up with, I have no doubt. First, we have to "scan" the towels to see where they have been moved or sold, and which colors are misplaced or missing. We then gather together like-colored towels and assemble them in order from light to dark according to their color scheme. Then, we discuss which towels to bring from the stock room to replace those that are gone. This project requires much folding and refolding of towels in a tri-fold pattern, usually while we are sitting on our knees on the floor surrounded by piles and piles of brightly colored terry cloth, some of which are hideous to behold. Engulfed in a fog of fluff, each of us can be heard sneezing in turn. (Don't panic, we carry kleenex.)
Although this system is one that most of us dread maniacly, it has to be done at least once a week, otherwise there would be a hugely depleted pile of something the customers would grow bored with and eventually would stop buying towels. It isn't a matter of WHO will do it, but WHEN, since we all must. It is humbling, to be sure, to have to be the ones on "towel duty" while the other associates stand happily at the register chatting the customers through their towel purchases, (which they've had to step over us to acquire). Still, maintenance is maintenance. And I wouldn't be happy unless I spoke of the symbolism of it all, naturally, so read on...
As spiritual beings, those of who ARE striving to be spiritual beings, we must do the same thing with our inner lives that I did today with the towels. Without spiritual maintenance, we grow bored with what is left of our spirituality and eventually we will (we WILL!) abandon it altogether. The two major religions that I have been associated with and which are much more alike than many would choose to believe both discuss the importance of spiritual upkeep.
Christianity, using a wonderful parable, phrases it like this:
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13
Islam is a little more straightforward:
Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Al-Baqarah 277
Speak to my servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers, and spend in charity out of the sustenance we have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. Ibrahim 31
The way I see it, God tells us, no matter who we are, or in which way we pray, that we MUST pray in order to be prepared for the time when Jesus will return. Yes, even the Muslims believe this. (And Jesus shall be a sign for the coming of the hour of judgement: therefore, have no doubt about the hour, but follow ye me (Allah): this is a Straight Way. Az-Zukhruf 61) Without prayer, our worship is worthless. Prayer is our form of maintenance; the oil in our lamps that keeps us lit. It is our communication with God. God already knows what's in our hearts, but instead of simply "reading" our hearts and acting on them, he desires for US to communicate. After all, we are not omnipotent and do not know the intentions of God. Why else do we have the word "why" in all languages? Christians are requested but not ordered to pray, if I have read my New Testament correctly, but that doesn't mean that it makes it easier on the Christian than it does on the Muslim who IS required to pray five times a day. Without this communication, God sees US, but we don't see HIM. We first become doubtful of our ability to worship, which leads us to become rebellious toward prayer(out of a sense of guilt), and finally, we take up the attitude that God doesn't listen anyway, further damaging our sense of self-esteem. The truth be told, God listens to every word that comes from our mouths, and even those that don't. He hears our pleas, our cries for help, our thanksgiving, our worries, our praises, and our curses. He opens his ears to all of it. What's more, he ALWAYS answers those prayers. (Not always in a positive manner, but always what is good for the person asking and the situation in question--and always for His greater glory.) Without this spiritual maintenance, others in need of our guidance cannot see God/Allah in us. If we are a dingy, ugly towel dropped sagging and lifeless in a corner, how do we expect to teach our children, for instance, that God loves us? We want them to see how beautiful He is, and how very much He cares for all of us. We want them to learn how to maintain their own precious spiritual lives. (Anyone who has heard the prayer of a child can say for a certainty that this is truth indeed, for their's are the most honest and heartfelt of all.)
As I gazed with pride at the end result of all of that towel folding today, I realized how pretty some of those strangely colored towels were in combination with all of the other colors. How much more so are our hearts when God can reach them.
Although this system is one that most of us dread maniacly, it has to be done at least once a week, otherwise there would be a hugely depleted pile of something the customers would grow bored with and eventually would stop buying towels. It isn't a matter of WHO will do it, but WHEN, since we all must. It is humbling, to be sure, to have to be the ones on "towel duty" while the other associates stand happily at the register chatting the customers through their towel purchases, (which they've had to step over us to acquire). Still, maintenance is maintenance. And I wouldn't be happy unless I spoke of the symbolism of it all, naturally, so read on...
As spiritual beings, those of who ARE striving to be spiritual beings, we must do the same thing with our inner lives that I did today with the towels. Without spiritual maintenance, we grow bored with what is left of our spirituality and eventually we will (we WILL!) abandon it altogether. The two major religions that I have been associated with and which are much more alike than many would choose to believe both discuss the importance of spiritual upkeep.
Christianity, using a wonderful parable, phrases it like this:
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13
Islam is a little more straightforward:
Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Al-Baqarah 277
Speak to my servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers, and spend in charity out of the sustenance we have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. Ibrahim 31
The way I see it, God tells us, no matter who we are, or in which way we pray, that we MUST pray in order to be prepared for the time when Jesus will return. Yes, even the Muslims believe this. (And Jesus shall be a sign for the coming of the hour of judgement: therefore, have no doubt about the hour, but follow ye me (Allah): this is a Straight Way. Az-Zukhruf 61) Without prayer, our worship is worthless. Prayer is our form of maintenance; the oil in our lamps that keeps us lit. It is our communication with God. God already knows what's in our hearts, but instead of simply "reading" our hearts and acting on them, he desires for US to communicate. After all, we are not omnipotent and do not know the intentions of God. Why else do we have the word "why" in all languages? Christians are requested but not ordered to pray, if I have read my New Testament correctly, but that doesn't mean that it makes it easier on the Christian than it does on the Muslim who IS required to pray five times a day. Without this communication, God sees US, but we don't see HIM. We first become doubtful of our ability to worship, which leads us to become rebellious toward prayer(out of a sense of guilt), and finally, we take up the attitude that God doesn't listen anyway, further damaging our sense of self-esteem. The truth be told, God listens to every word that comes from our mouths, and even those that don't. He hears our pleas, our cries for help, our thanksgiving, our worries, our praises, and our curses. He opens his ears to all of it. What's more, he ALWAYS answers those prayers. (Not always in a positive manner, but always what is good for the person asking and the situation in question--and always for His greater glory.) Without this spiritual maintenance, others in need of our guidance cannot see God/Allah in us. If we are a dingy, ugly towel dropped sagging and lifeless in a corner, how do we expect to teach our children, for instance, that God loves us? We want them to see how beautiful He is, and how very much He cares for all of us. We want them to learn how to maintain their own precious spiritual lives. (Anyone who has heard the prayer of a child can say for a certainty that this is truth indeed, for their's are the most honest and heartfelt of all.)
As I gazed with pride at the end result of all of that towel folding today, I realized how pretty some of those strangely colored towels were in combination with all of the other colors. How much more so are our hearts when God can reach them.
