The Cleansing Power (A Parable)

The Cleansing Power
A Parable
By N.E. Johnson


Bailey reach into the kitchen sink and removed three glasses; he asked his friends if any of them were thirsty.
Lydia quickly responded “Yes, whatch got?” her eyes moved from Bailey down to the three glasses.
“Um, you know, I’m really not that thirsty after all…I’ll pass.”
“I’ll take something.” Kyle said. He then felt an elbow jab him in the side, Lydia got his attention. She shook her head no and nodded toward the three glasses.
“Dude! You don’t expect us to drink from those?”
“Why what’s wrong”
Bailey picked up one of the glasses and held it in front of his face, he examined it. The glass, which was normally crystal clear, had a huge water spot and chunks of food where it had been laying on in its’ side.
“I don’t see anything wrong. It isn’t cracked anywhere, it will hold soda.”
“Bailey, are you blind? That glass is filthy!”
Bailey looked closely at the glass again.
“Lydia, you’re right! This glass could use a little cleaning.”
Kyle looked at Lydia in disbelief as Bailey turned on the faucet, took a cloth in hand and washed the glass.
“There. Is that better?”
The glass now sparkled- on the outside.
“Bailey! Are you completely loony? That glass is still filthy on the inside!”
Bailey examined the glass again. Because it was cleaned so well on the outside, when he looked closely, he could see that the glass was even dirtier then was previously thought. Around the little particles of food were fuzzy little spores of blue and green and white.
“You’re right Lydia, this glass is disgusting!”
Bailey once again turned on the faucet and grabbed the cloth, he washed the inside of the glass vigorously.
He presented the glass to his friends and it looked good, it appeared clean. Lydia was not satisfied.
“Soap….You did not use soap.” She continued. “Everything bad that was in the glass can still be harmful to us; it can make us sick and even cause us to die! Bailey, unless you wash the glass in soap it is not properly cleaned and it is useless!”
Bailey sighed.
“Okay. Lydia, if this glass is washed in the soap, will you drink from it?”
“Sure Bailey. It will truly be clean then.”
Bailey put some soap on the cloth and turned on the faucet; he washed and rinsed the glass completely then filled it with soda and handed it to Lydia. The soda was refreshing and full of its’ natural flavor and quenched her thirst.
As for the other two glasses, they were never cleaned and thrown into the garbage while Kyle remained thirsty.

He who has ears let him hear and he who has wisdom let him understand; for knowledge comes by listening and wisdom comes from the God who gave these words.