Who knew brushing my teeth would turn into a valuable spiritual revelation and lesson? Surely not me. I found myself vigorously pushing that Phillips Sonic Care toothbrush back and forth and up and down like it was my job. And in that moment it hit me. You are not supposed to move the toothbrush. It’s an electric toothbrush that you just hold in strategic spots on your teeth and then wait for the full two minutes and let the toothbrush do all the heavy lifting AKA brushing.
2 minutes? Who has time to hold a toothbrush in their mouth for two minutes? I have things to do. Places to go and people to see. Funny how two minutes feels like an eternity when your just standing still and waiting. It’s a completely different story when your stuck on the Deerfoot and trying to get to work on time. Two minutes goes by in a blink.
As I was vigorously pushing that moving toothbrush back and forth, I heard a voice speak in my spirit…why are you doing all the work? That toothbrush was ergonomically designed to do all the work and to do it better than you. Ergonomic, by definition, means that a thing was made in a way minimizes physical effort or discomfort and maximizes efficiency and here I am assuming that if I give it a little help the two minutes will go by faster or my teeth will get cleaner?
Nope. What came to me in that moment was this: and that’s how Im trying to live my spiritual life. Always just giving God a little hand or suggestion in case He is taking too long or not doing things my way. Thinking that I will improve on the spiritual system. Striving, and exhausting myself to getter done. With a touch of pride, I might add. You know, because of my stellar energy and work ethic and ingenuity. And God just wants me to slow down and hold the toothbrush for the entire two minutes and let Him do the work that only He can do. If I do it properly, those teeth will be smooth and pearly white. Clean and healthier and all I had to do was hold the toothbrush and let it do what it was designed to do.
And while I am waiting in that looong two minutes focus on the Creator and what He’s doing in my life. Take that time to be still and just listen. Listen to His wisdom and give myself up to his power and love and care. I don’t have to do everything myself. I just don’t. Slow down. Cease my striving and quit exhausting myself. A sure sign I’m trying to live life in my own strength is when I am exhausted and frustrated and dizzy. Short tempered? Who me? Confused? Negative attitude? Maybe turn that toothbrush on for another two minutes and think about what you’ve done.
The Red Plaid Apron 