It Will All Come Out in the Wash

My car is filthy this time of year.

The dirt and salt contrasts starkly against the pearl white paint.

I can't wait to take it in and get it cleaned.

My favorite part of the car wash is when the colored, foamy soap covers the windshield.

And then the car wash works its magic.

Clearing away the dirt and the grime and the evidence of winter.

It's so beautiful.

Until I get back on the road and drive it, kicking up dirt and salt all over again.

It's a vicious cycle.

A lot like the dirt and grime we gather every day of our lives.

There's the physical dirt.

If you're anything like me, there's something that gets dropped on your shirt or your pants at virtually every meal.

There's dirt that gets tracked in when we come in from outside.

Pet hair and dust that gathers, no matter how hard we try to keep up with it.

Smudges on our windows and mirrors that mysteriously appear.

And then there's the dirt you can't see.

The stuff that lives inside of us.

Residual traces of the hurt and pain and challenges we've faced in our lives.

Clouding our hearts and our minds.

If we never take the time to wash those away, they'll leave stains that we'll carry with us forever.

It's not as easy as spraying a little colorful foam and scrubbing with giant soft-bristled brushes, though.

The internal dirt needs to be dealt with in a more thoughtful way.

We have to do the work.

We have to reflect on what's stuck to us and needs to be talked through.

We have to find ways to remove the layer of dust that prevents us from repairing that damaged relationship we miss so much.

Or achieving that goal or dream we've put aside.

We have to figure out how to forgive and let go of the pain we carry from something that happened years ago.

It's hard. And life isn't fair a lot of the time.

But we still need to take the time to focus on cleaning up the dirt in our lives.

It won't clean up perfectly.

There will be stains that we can't scrub away.

But at the end of the day, the work is worth it.

Clearing away the bad leaves room for more of the good.

Even if it is a never-ending cycle. Like laundry or dusting.

The good news is....

Eventually...

If we do the work.

It will all come out in the wash.

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