Camouflaging with Perfume

Manolo Almendras, a high school buddy, was once sent on a scholarship to France in relation to his research work on milkfish or "bangus" with Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC). He told me of an occasion when the owner of the place he rented called his attention one morning. "Manolo, why do you take a bath every day?" asked the landlord. He responded that it kept him clean and it was part of his routine. The proprietor said that water in France did not come cheap and asked him gently to cut down on his bathroom time. Manolo realised later on that most of his French classmates simply sprinkled their bodies with perfume to keep themselves socially presentable. He did reduce his bathing; but refused to adapt to perfuming.

Washing and bathing are essential to keep our bodies clean. The elements of the earth can easily accumulate in our delicate skin and the longer these stick the more damage these bring. Not only will the body become dirty, microbes are attracted and soon enough rashes appear. The situation becomes worse with scratching, thereby causing irritation and/or open wound. Camouflaging with perfume won’t make the problem go away.

If it is important to wash or bath our bodies to keep these tidy and healthy; so must we cleanse our souls of sin that destroys its glitter in the eyes of God. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight Cease to do evil." (Isaiah 1:16) As water washes dirt from the body, prayer, charity, service and sacrifices can cleanse the spirit. We must do these consistently as the devil is persistent in his attacks.

The love of God is like pure water, it comes for free so long as we call and serve Him; we will be kept clean and holy. "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)

by Mel Libre