Contamination
>> Friday, March 27, 2020
Several years ago, my daughter operated a daycare in her home. It was a clean, organized center full of happy children. I helped out sometimes. One time, she had car trouble and borrowed mine. During that time, a child infected the center with pink eye. We knew how very contagious that was and immediately took steps to protect everyone. All was well until the day she called and said I could come pick up my car. 
A friend took me to her home. To ensure no contamination, my daughter and I met in the front yard. No hugging. No touching. The only thing transferred was my car keys. I climbed in my car and drove home.
You guessed it. I contracted pink eye. From the car keys.
I thought of that story this morning as I was driving home from the post office. We are under a mandatory rule of social distancing and staying home. Only essential businesses are open…one of which is the post office. I timed it so I would arrive just as they opened. I thought it would be the least contaminated then. The doors were propped open, so I didn’t have to touch them. I was the only customer, so I placed my box on the counter. So far, so good.
The clerk wore gloves. I decided that was for her protection. Those gloves could still harbor a virus. The normal questions were asked of me. Since I was going to use a credit card, I had to push the answers of yes or no on the screen of the little credit card machine. I placed my credit card back in my purse. I had been the only one to touch it. A receipt was printed and handed to me by those gloved hands holding onto one little corner. So far, so good.
I climbed in my car thinking, “Well I don’t need to use the disinfectant wipe I have in my pocket. I didn’t have to touch anything.”
Oh, but I had. That machine that required my yes and no answers had been touched by everybody using a credit card. Out came the wipe. As I cleaned everything I had touched since returning to my car, my mind took off.
Life is just like that.
We can be so careful to not be contaminated by the obvious, big things. We don’t go to porn sites or spend a night in a motel with someone other than our spouse. At the end of the day, we can feel good about ourselves. Yay us.
But what about the little things?
Did we cheat on our Income Taxes? Lie to our spouse about that charge on the credit card? Gossip about the newcomer at work?
Just as that germ on the car keys traveled to my eyes, the contamination in our lives can start with the little things. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of them, they are so normal for us. But they can contaminate our lives. That virus can grow to other, larger indiscretions, contaminating even more of our life.
As a Christ-follower, my prayer is that God makes me aware of the little things in my life that could turn into big things. I certainly don’t want to contaminate anyone else.
“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else.” Romans 14:13 (MSG)
