It is said that cleanliness is next to godliness. Being able to tidy ourselves and space is what keeps us above animals. Because it is in our nature to be messy and wild and itch our armpits like monkeys, to keep clean requires constant upkeep. Constant laundry and dishes and showers and pruning our nails and skin and wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors and throwing things away. Sometimes the chores are annoying but if you accept them they can be very relaxing. Getting clean is a great way to display care for yourself and those around you.
But my favorite form of cleanliness is not human. It is found in nature’s precision and smoothness. A rock that has been weathered smooth. The crisp fold at the peak of a wind-blown sand dune. A bubble. A ripple. The prismatic cleavage of a crystal. Untouched snow. Fresh air.
I want to take a shower. I shave my legs and armpits. I shampoo and condition my hair. I wash my face for a long minute. I scrub my body with an exfoliating towel and soap. I rinse. I dry off with a towel that is warm from the drier. I rub a nice think layer of lotion into my skin. I pluck my eyebrows. I trim my nails. I put on all white linen. I put on pearls. I drink water with lemon and a small pinch of salt. I walk barefoot on polish floors. I sit in a big bright room with the windows open. White curtains billow with the breeze. I sit with perfect posture. I close my eyes. I breathe slowly and deeply. I do not move. My mind does not wander. I pray for forgiveness. I am clean.