And Dirt Don’t Hurt.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

My kids play in the dirt. They make mud pies and eat unwashed veggies from our garden. I encourage bare feet on the earth which patter into our house, tracking said earth (and other stuff) into our living space. I’ve never been a great house keeper, so recent studies on how we need some dirt in our environment was a relief.

Overuse of antibiotics, antibacterial soaps and sanitizers has destroyed not only harmful bacteria but also the good bacteria we need for strong immune systems. We’ve stripped our body’s microbiomes and  have left them susceptible to super-germs and allergies. Did you know there are anti-depressant properties in soil? No wonder gardening is therapeutic, and babies put everything in their mouths!

Is there a place for sanitation? Of course! Florence Nightingale saved many lives with her discoveries about cleanliness in the medical field. And there are sometimes harmful parasites or bacteria in the dirt that can cause infections especially if you have an open wound. But ultra-sanitization is also dangerous.

“Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself?
 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool- why die before your time?
 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.”
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 New International Version

Could we Christians in an attempt to be holy sometimes strive for an over-sterilized environment? And in what ways could embracing some dirt (messy people, messy questions, our own messiness) build up our immunity to sin and\or sterile (unfruitful) lives?

Jesus not only entered our messy world, He invited the messy into His own living space by welcoming us into His Kingdom. That’s good news for you and me, isn’t it, fellow Messy One?

Is God asking you to let Him track some dirt into your living space? Or could He be calling you outside of your clean, comfort zone to make mud pies with Him? Go on and experience the dirt between your fingers. Thanks to grace, it probably won’t kill you. You might even experience increased freedom and become more available to share that freedom with others.

Copyright photo and text Jennifer Brukiewa