Again?

Toothpaste in the eye. You might not understand where I'm coming from on this. You would have to be as blind as a bat...which I hear is not as blind as we have been lead to believe...but it is the only idiom I have on hand, at the moment. I am verrrrrrrrry near-sighted. Hold your arm out in front of your face, as far as you can...yeah, that's blurry to me. Bring it closer... closer... ok, about 6 inches from your face. That is where things come into focus when I am not wearing my glasses or contacts.

I brush my teeth every morning, usually right after my shower, which means the bathroom is filled with lovely steam...which means that if I put my glasses on, they will just steam up and leave me with not even a foggy idea of where I am. So, I do it blind. But remember, I really can't see clearly at arm's length. I have to bring it in closer to my face...and that's when it gets me. I invariably drag the end of the tube just over the bristles and, somehow--and here is real talent--flick a speck of toothpaste right into my eyeball. And I use baking soda, minty, tartar-fighting, all-day-fresh-breath gel! Oh, the humanity!

This sorry situation has presented various analogies to me since, sadly, it happens somewhat frequently. There is the "When Will I Ever Learn?" analogy...How many times do we have to be in the same situation before we realize that we have put our own selves there all on our own? I have often found myself bemoaning some turn of events and, only too easily, be able to trace it back to my own actions (or lack of action), or obstinacy, or unwillingness to learn. ugh.

There is, of course, the "Speck/Beam" analogy. This one is just because it's just a tiny amount of toothpaste, so I think "speck." It doesn't mean I think I have a speck and you have a beam. It just reminds me that there are times I point out (or think about) someone else's shortcomings while giving a pass to my own quite lengthy list. Or worse, in pointing out (or thinking about) someone else's annoying or wrongful actions, I realize that I have done the exact same thing. double ugh.

Then, there is the "Big Picture" analogy. When we are following the path where God has directed us, we don't often see the end or the whole picture. I want to know how things will be and what will happen, but I also want to be satisfied with picking up my cross and walking through each day. It's so hard for us nosy little humans; we like to have a full story. But that is not guaranteed. Each day is a gift. I don't need to know it all to know what is right to do and then do it.

Finally--at least so far--there is the "Too Close to It" analogy. Sometimes, I am so close to my own viewpoint that I can't see it from anyone else's and end up needing a little heart correction. Or I just end up being so close to a situation that I get hurt by something that happens. You know...fallout. We've all been there. Didn't see that coming and...ouch!

In conclusion, I can't believe how many lessons God has given me through the simple tool of personal dental hygiene. Oh, Lord, I hope that some have sunk in! Well, there's another one--just because the truth hurts sometimes, we can't stop trying to be clean. There isn't a better way. I'm so grateful for the communication and communion we have with God. I'm also hoping that one of these days I'll manage just to brush my teeth.