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| A mighty banyan tree – love ’em! |
I rushed into the women’s restroom at the Plant City Strawberry Festival last year with five minutes to spare before my girlhood swoon faves, Air Supply (now grandfathers with gray hair but still singing just as swooningly), were to go onstage.
I noticed right away that this restroom was different. Unlike the grody, grimy, get-your-business-over-quick-and-flee-this-nasty-place fare we’ve come to expect from public toilets, this one actually gleamed.
It had, in fact, a sort of ethereal feel to it, if you can imagine as much from such an unlikely place. There was no black icky grime in the corners, no misplaced sprinkles or puddles on the floor, no graffiti on the stall doors. You actually wouldn’t mind setting your purse on the spotless floor of your cubical, except that you didn’t have to because all the hardware – door locks and purse hooks – were not only in place, but sparkling brightly.
A faint whiff of gardenias was in the air. And someone with a very pleasant voice was cheerfully humming.
It was … well, lovely.
I momentarily forgot I was in the bowels of a county fair midway and thought, “Now this is the kind of place you’d like to kick back and stay for a while.”
Upon exiting my stall, I noticed two white-uniformed attendants busily polishing counters and sinks and realized one of the ladies was the source of the lively humming that perked up the place. I couldn’t help but comment about the surprising cleanliness of the bathroom. She smiled from ear-to-ear and said, “There’s not a speck of dirt beneath, behind, or across our seats. You can go to any other bathroom in the whole park, and trust me, you’ll come back here… we’re the best!”
I left that bathroom grinning and uplifted from the obvious pride this woman took in her work. A scripture came to mind: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” Ecc. 9:10.
Whatever, it says. Regardless of the lowliness or loftiness of the job before you, do whatever it is with all your might. And be proud of the fruit of your labor. You will not only please your heavenly Father, but will be infused with a strengthening dose of self-worth and purpose.
I don’t know about you, but for some reason, I’m suddenly in the mood to scrub my potty.
