Smitty City

If you are anything like Smitty, you have undoubtedly found yourself restless at night, eating provolone cheese, and pondering the effectiveness of Purell. Admit it, the smooth application and psychological comfort compels usage...frequent usage. But is it effective? Is is more effective than soap and water?

The American Safety and Health Institute posits that alcohol-based hand sanitizer is more effective than soap in water...in fact, they recommend the use of products such as Purell and others. Also, you can skim this collegiate study that tests the efficiency of alcohol-based sanitizer vs. antibacterial soap. They found the ASHI to be accurate.

They key is alcohol concentration. According to a issue of the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal published last year, the alcohol concentration must not fall below 60%. The article says, "What this should say to the consumer is that they need to look carefully at the label before they buy any of these products,” said Elaine Larson, professor of pharmaceutical and therapeutic research at Columbia’s nursing school. “Check the bottle for active ingredients. It might say ethyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or some other variation, and those are all fine. But make sure that whichever of those alcohols is listed, its concentration is between 60 and 95 percent. Less than that isn’t enough."

I flew cross country last week to pursue the starring role in a story based on my life (for the record, I didn't get the part). Before I arrived at the airport that would steal all dignity from my soul a mere 24 hours later, I met a young lady who was suffering. She was descending upon death. For no more than an hour, it was my honor to hold my arm in the sky with finger pointed to the man who has carried the burden for all death and separation. She was unaware of the gentleman I pointed to during our conversation. The man that she had always been pointed to had a tarnished reputation in her eyes. At first I attempted to remove the rust and decay from this gentleman's face, but soon realized that I didn't know the man. So, I pointed her to a different man. The man I know - the beneficiary of my Soul Cravings. His face was refreshing to her, for they had never been introduced.

When I got off the plane, I had an eerie feeling that my purpose had been completed. Long before the apex of my journey that all money, time, and emotion had led to, God clearly said, "I'm done." I quickly realized that I was not there to audition for a starring role, rather, I was there to play a small role in the story of God.

I prefer it that way.

Read the book of Esther. I have plenty of thoughts, but my commentary is trivial at best.

Instead of reading my musings, study Mordecai's words in chapter 4,

verses 12-17.

The River of God flows past us as we stand along its banks.
You can jump in if you like.
Or not.
It flows regardless.