On the ledge of our bathtub is a little green elephant. It has stood there since the children were small. My wife keeps it there to hide the soap behind it. It looks so funny to see soap just lying there on the ledge of the bath. People were once allowed to think it was used for something.
These days, I don’t shower much. I have the water in the tub as hot as possible. That soothes my back muscles a bit. People now say that ice-cold water is even better. But have you ever stepped into a cold bath? Horrible! I do find a soak as soothing as a shower by the way — you get to an age where you want to sit with it! Nice then when you have company too!
I am very happy with my little elephant. She reminds me of the old days. I say ‘she’ because I think it is a female. Why I think that I don’t know. Maybe because she has a happy, bright little face? She also has her trunk turned up, like some girls turn up their noses. Have you ever seen a guy with a turned-up nose?
There used to be little boys in that bathtub. They have now become men. They don’t remember spraying each other with the elephant’s trunk. That little trunk absorbs water if you first squeeze the beast’s belly and then let it slowly expand. I still do that sometimes for fun — and then I think back to those kids, who are now well past thirty.
I remember it so well. If you didn’t get there in time, there was more water on the floor than in the tub. So, in winter I often put on my rubber boots when it was my turn to wash the boys. In summer, I went barefoot, and the cold water felt nice under foot. I think now that those little guys probably had to overcome a lot of fear when I came in. They immediately sat with their eyes tightly shut, because when mother washed their hair, they never got shampoo in their eyes, but oh dear — when daddy did it! He croaked so strangely messing with that foam. And then he would hold them under water with their heads until all the mess was out again. Sometimes they were allowed to take a breath. A bit exaggerated, of course, but it is a fact that men sometimes treat the kids more roughly than their wives.
Generations
Now the grandchildren are coming to stay — a second generation playing with the little elephant. I don’t get to polish off those little kids. Their fathers have memories too! This beastie will be there for quite a few years yet, because when you have seven children, the parade of grandchildren seems never-ending. Maybe a third generation will squeeze the beastie too – it seems to be indestructible.
Too bad now that I am often the only one who has the little elephant as a friend. She tumbles into the water quite often when I reach for the soap. Almost reverently then, I put her back in front of the soap box, as she has become very dear to me.
Sermon
If I were a pastor, pondering on this beast, I’d wrap a sermon around it. That is what some preachers do these days. They do not attach a sermon to the three points that every text seems to hide within it, but to the ups and downs of modern times. Such a modern pastor would take the little elephant onto the pulpit — vivid teaching. My little elephant would like that because she is a pious creature. When I enter the bath, she sits there with her front paws folded together, and you would almost expect her to close her eyes and say a prayer. But she doesn’t. Above the happily raised trunk, her eyes glisten with pleasure. See, there! I’ve got two points for my sermon already; piety and pleasure — they go together!
But there needs to be a third point, otherwise it won’t be a good sermon. Ah-ha, I know already! Steadfastness! My beastie stands there so firmly — as soon as I sink into the comfort of the warm water to soothe the pain in my back a little, I see her standing there, piously and cheerfully, easing the pain or loneliness in my soul as well. I would argue that people too should stand ever ready for each other, just like my little elephant. To that end, you just get out of the bathtub and put your hand back to the plough. Steadfastness, beloved congregation, that’s what it comes down to!
Tears
Yet, every once in a while, you fall back into the water of your own hot tears. And then there’s always a Hand that puts you back on the ledge, so that, after washing your own feet, you can also wash the feet of your neighbour. My happy little elephant is working on me, but doesn’t know it, because she has no brain. She props up my memories, her cheerful snout makes me happy, and she exhorts me to piety, cheerfulness and fortitude. Just follow her lead!
Well, sweet beastie, until next time. Now girl, don’t do that again — tears? OK, I still have to hide the soap behind you again. Should I squeeze you a little more? Go on now just do it!
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