It's great to get back to blogging and I know God wants me to. I've been busy bringing the book to a close so that I could submit it to the writing contest, and I've also been working a lot of overtime at the office.
A few days ago, I woke up with a single thought on my mind. "Angi, the people who clean the toilets for you are the most important people in your office." Of course, I knew it was God speaking to me, but I wasn't sure where He was coming from with that or where He was going with it.
It pressed on my spirit for a few days and I figured it was very important to Him for some reason. And when I really pondered it, I realized just how right He is. Can you imagine if there was no one willing to clean the toilets (and clean up in general) at your place of employment? How about at the restaurants you frequent, and what about the concerts and ball games? What if you had to use a bathroom filthy beyond imagination, or stop and clean it yourself on your lunch break, as you dine out, or while you're trying to enjoy some music or basketball?
The world often does not value people in maintenance. It pays them mininum wage and frequently overlooks them altogether. Most of the time, I don't believe they even qualify for benefits. And what about us patrons? We make unruly messes without thinking about it, knowing that someone else is coming behind us to clean it up and they get paid to for it (so why should we do it?!?!?)! I have cleaned public toilets before, but I can't say I ever felt important while I was doing it, so I am guilty of not viewing the position as valuable...until God laid it upon my spirit and opened my eyes. The people who clean the toilets for us truly are the most important ones at our jobs and in the public places we go. Without them, we would be lost.
As He continued to press this upon my spirit, I started to think I should blog about it. Tonight, He made what would've been a good blog into a great blog by giving me an opportunity that I never saw coming.
I was in the bathroom at Time Warner Cable Arena and a young lady was mopping the floors amidst the chaos. I stopped her and said "Thank you for what you do." She shyly and graciously smiled at me. As I made my way back to my seat, it occured to me that I should've told her what God said.
The concert continued. I had a lot of water at dinner, so I had to go to the restroom again. Much to my surprise, there was that girl again. What are the chances of seeing the same maintenance person twice in the same bathroom in a place that large? Only God. It could ONLY be God.
This time, I stopped her and told her what God told me. She smiled and I could see the joy in her spirit. I made sure to tell her that the message was directly from Him, and that she (and others like her) are the most important people in the place. I pray that His words uplifted her spirit in whatever way she needed at that moment.
How great is our God?!?!?!?!?!?!? I never tire of the amazing ways He works, and the surprises around every corner in the most unlikely places. Jesus rocks!
