I’ve just had a very odd facial by a therapist who wore rubbers gloves. I didn’t come away feeling as relaxed as I would like. Mostly I spent the time thinking that I was a bit icky to touch. I understand why she felt like that. I have a cold sore on my top lip.
The cold sore came along three days ago, leading up to coming away on holiday. Ahhh yah!
The facial was supposed to be a relaxing start to this holiday but as I say it wasn’t what I expected. I didn’t say anything to the therapist. I laid there, trying to process it from her perspective. I decided that I would follow the advice that I read in the bible this week which was to stay peaceful in all circumstances and in doing so, I managed to still enjoy the facial, and to relax.
“… try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 CEVUK)”
When I got home I joked about the experience, saying it was a bit like being in a curtained decontamination chamber with a bunch of people in white coats and full gas masks, washing me down with high pressure hoses. I felt special people, but not in a good way.
The experience got me thinking though. It made me question, where in my life do I treat people like that? Where do I look at others and decide I want to put distance between them and me?
I struggle at times in my work. My distancing comes in the form of judgment and prideful comparison. It’s unsaid but it sits on my heart. Of course, there is my homeless friend, who I talk to most days and give money to but whom I definitely keep at a distance. Do I even have the right to call him my homeless “friend? Then there’s a friend whose odor lingers on my clothes, so I recently made the decision to not hug her when we greet.
SO THREE things — without having to think too hard. Oh man!
I think its really important to ask myself why I am experiencing something and to see where in my life I am guilty of the same thing. That’s biblical too. It’s usually pretty confronting but then the truth is.
“Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. (Romans 2:1 CEVUK)”
The rubber glove facial was not wasted on me. I get it. It’s not nice to distance people and I hope that I will remember this experience and it will help me to consider more carefully my responses, especially when it comes to those relational moments when my personal comfort is being challenged.
Does anyone have an experience that made them feel that way?
distillations.blog 
This was powerful! It brought to mind a girl named Sharon. We sat next to each other in home room all thru high school. We were seated alphabetically. She wanted to be my friend but I kept her at a distance. I don’t know why. I’d love to find her and apologize-let her know I’ve changed!!!
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