Squeaky clean

SQUEAKY CLEAN

December 30, 2008


Used to be a commercial that featured a cleaning product accompanied by a demonstration that produced squeaks. They were trying to say, our product will so get the dirt out of your stuff that it will squeak (with delight?)....

At a family get-together recently, we were about to say good-bye to one who had travelled far to join us at this Christmas...and it came to us to do something that has become a regular part of such moments as a family.

We have gotten into this pattern of forming a huddle - ususally seated - and declaring that the next minutes will be God's - to shape prayers in us, to speak prompts to us, to clarify His will for us. We make sure that everyone understands this is an open time - no designated pray-ers, the Bible as reference if prompted, but no specific agenda. Just us together - and God...for usually fifteen minutes or more...even if it means sitting together in silence. We all wanted God to have our complete attention before we parted from each other.

So we huddled in the living room - making sure nothing would interrupt, and speaking the open context just outlined above. Someone reached for a notepad to act as the secretary, writing down a summary of whatever would happen.

We sat quietly for a time and then one of us began to pray, deeply thanking God for the time we had shared and expressing our desire to hear whatever He might say to us or have us do. Further prayer followed...and quietness...and prayer....and then to my heart a prompt: "Confess your sin and weakness" - get squeaky clean.

So out tumbled something that I felt could be important at the moment. It involved a time of weakness in my parenting that I was ashamed of. I asked for forgiveness and it was granted. There was pretty deep emotion right then. I felt released and I could sense it was important for others that this had transpired.

We prayed a bit more and blessed and thanked and felt lighter and "done." The secretary disclosed that she had written things down and handed the notes to the person that some of it most would apply to.

We hugged....and when someone hugged me, I squeaked.

Not really...but inside I felt that clean.

And we all seemed more joyful.

And parting was easier...cause we knew even away from each other we would still be together.

James, the younger brother of Jesus, in his New Testament book writes: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

It really does work.

Ah, the New Year is almost upon us.

Why not enter it squeaky clean?