A Clean Heart

This morning I wasn't needed for patient care at work but I did put in a few hours there cleaning.  In fact, I spend a lot of my working hours cleaning.  Between every patient we (nurses and/or nursing assistants) wipe down all the surfaces with a germicidal.  We clean the clipboard on which the patients sign their consents, the pens with which they write, door handles, everything.  In the morning, even though each room was cleaned at the end of the previous day, the rooms get wiped down yet again.  This is important in order to reduce the risk of surgical infections.

What I was doing today, though, was a monthly cleaning.  We are each assigned an area that gets an even more thorough cleaning once each month.  I cleaned two patient rooms today.  Working as fast as I can it takes about an hour per room.  EVERYTHING is cleaned!  The walls, ceilings, all equipment, chairs...

All of it is scrubbed down.  Every item must be removed from the cupboards and drawers.

We use a bleach solution to clean inside and out.  Today I took my cell phone and used it as an MP3 player, listening to worship songs.  It was quite pleasant!

All this cleaning brought another song into my mind.  It is part of the liturgy we sing at church.  Liturgy is actually Bible verses or teaching put to music.  This one is found is Psalm 51:10...

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and 

renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and uphold me

with your free spirit.

I've always enjoyed singing that.  Every bit of it is just so meaningful.  The first part helps me remember that I don't yet have it right and that I can't do it myself.  The second part is a plea, acknowledging that I want to remain close to God and to have is Spirit always with me.  The third part is the best part.  When I'm frustrated with my own nature, or when the ways of this world are draining my strength, I remember that God offers true joys... and it is free.