Washing Windows

     Our family has begun to decorate for Fall.  Okay, let me be truthful, Patty and I have begun to decorate for Fall.  The men in our house wouldn’t notice if the Christmas Tree was up year round with a fuzzy rabbit underneath.
     The porch was swept, the summer things put away, my favorite ceramic pumpkins retrieved from the basement, and a few seasonal tablecloths and runners were brought out.
     Last May, I had taken the curtains down off of the eight foot slider in the family room so that we could all enjoy the view of the backyard.  I love the sun slanting down onto the floors.  Now though, it is time to hang them back up to insulate us as the temperatures begin to drop at night.
     I looked at that wall of glass.  There were finger marks at various heights, top and bottom.  There were nose prints from our dog, Riley, and, I suspect, the kids.  Smudges, some paint spots, a few spider webs, and plain old dirt marred my view.  Cleaning the windows was obviously necessary.
     I would rather vacuum.  When you vacuum the dirt, dog hair, and cereal morsels are sucked up and gone forever.  Washing windows seems so futile.  Within five minutes someone will have smeared something on them.  When the glass is clean the dog can see the squirrels better.  She whimpers at them, running back and forth, nose pressed against the glass for effect.  Sigh.  Well the windows will sure look good for five minutes.
     Sometimes, I think, our lives are like windows.   Things are so cloudy we can’t see clearly.  We weave frantic webs as we race about our daily to do list.  We let material gains and everyday life cloud our soul.  We put curtains up - so that we don’t reveal too much of our inner attitudes to others.
          Some of us have a real knack for getting dirty.  I know I do.  But God knows how to polish me right up and clothe me in robes of white.
     In order to wash my windows, I use Windex, rags and elbow grease.  I thank God that He doesn’t use that concoction on me.  Instead He uses a simple solution called Grace.  Because of His grace we can attain the impossible riches of heaven.
     God wants others to see Him when they look through our windows.

 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  ~Matthew 5:14-16