It seems like people generally use their dishwasher in one of two ways:

1) Wash the dishes, then load them into the dishwasher gunk-free.

2) Eat, then load the dishes into the dishwasher, gunk and all.

I used to be a staunch supporter of #2.

Now I always scrub all the gunk off of the dishes before putting them in the dish washer. It is a compulsion that I cannot stop. How did this happen???

I am a #1 convert. I have seen the light! It may take more time up front, but it is totally worth it in the end when the dishes come out of the dishwasher without the faintest speck of dried-on food particles.

Perhaps the switch happened this summer in Poland. Hmm… this reminds me of an email I sent to my prayer supporters:

As I was doing the dishes for the 3rd time today, I realized that I have become almost obsessive about cleaning, drying, and putting away my dishes after every single meal or snack. I thought this was strange, because I do not typically do this at my house. Like the good special ed teacher that I am, I decided to do a functional behavior analysis and figure out the reason for my new behavior. After some thought I realized that I never know when Bozena will come home, and as a guest in her home, I want to keep things as I find them. I decided that as I become more comfortable, and this apartment feels more like home, the behavior is likely to weaken.

This whole scenario reminded me of Mark 13, where Jesus shares a parable about His return. He says that no one knows the day or hour of His return, and encourages us to live like servants whose Master is out and might return at any moment, always working and waiting so that we are ready. Being in a different country, I am ever-reminded that I am not at home, and it is easier to live a “missionally risky” lifestyle. When I am in College Station or Spring, it is easy to feel like I am “home” and become complacent about serving others or taking missional risks. Just like it is easy to let the dishes pile up – I can always do them later, right? But my true citizenship is heaven, I am not home yet! So whether I am in Poland, College Station, India, or wherever else the Lord might send me, I need to remember not to let those proverbial dishes pile up…get them done now while before it is too late!

What a sweet summer I spent with the Lord. Only He could send me half-way around the world for a retreat into His Word.

And, yes, I do realize that I am turning into my mother.