What is it about dirt that seems to rub humanity the wrong way? It seems that almost every time the root word dirt is used, it conjures up a negative connotation. Think about it for a minute. When do you use the word dirt to convey something positive?
Take, for example, the word dirty. A person said to have a dirty mind is not being complimented. Dirty linen is associated with gossip and scandal. To get the dirt on someone is to air out their dirty linen. Dirt cheap means really inexpensive and usually of poor quality. Dirty pool means that someone is behaving unfairly.
Yet, for the all the invectives we heap upon dirt, there would be no life -- at least as we know it -- without it! We couldn't grow many of the foods we need to survive without dirt. A house built on just sand or rocks wouldn't be as sturdy. Heck, without dirt none of us could have enjoyed the age old childhood ritual of making mud pies. No mud pies?!
What's even more amazing is that the Christian ethos which permeates our society celebrates dirt as the constituent ingredient that brought humanity to life. Had there been no dirt, what would God have fashioned us from? Seashells?
If we are completely honest with ourselves, we've really disrespected dirt from day one. Dirt provides meaning in our lives, yet all we do is diss it.
What can I say? It's just a dirty rotten shame! ;-)
Take, for example, the word dirty. A person said to have a dirty mind is not being complimented. Dirty linen is associated with gossip and scandal. To get the dirt on someone is to air out their dirty linen. Dirt cheap means really inexpensive and usually of poor quality. Dirty pool means that someone is behaving unfairly.
Yet, for the all the invectives we heap upon dirt, there would be no life -- at least as we know it -- without it! We couldn't grow many of the foods we need to survive without dirt. A house built on just sand or rocks wouldn't be as sturdy. Heck, without dirt none of us could have enjoyed the age old childhood ritual of making mud pies. No mud pies?!
What's even more amazing is that the Christian ethos which permeates our society celebrates dirt as the constituent ingredient that brought humanity to life. Had there been no dirt, what would God have fashioned us from? Seashells?
If we are completely honest with ourselves, we've really disrespected dirt from day one. Dirt provides meaning in our lives, yet all we do is diss it.
What can I say? It's just a dirty rotten shame! ;-)
Funny, I never saw anything, even dirt, as impure, or to be avoided. At the same time, I didn't abide with being filthy. Everything in the natural world appears so "innocent" to me. Just is.
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