Monday Morning Manna: Washing and Singing

I had occasionally sung in the shower, but I had never sung at the sink before. Now, thanks to the CaronaVirus, I am told to wash my hands many times each day and to continue for a minimum of twenty seconds. (I confess I have not washed enough to reach the level of one who admitted that he had washed his hands so many times, he found his 9th grade Algebra cheat notes.) To assist, it is suggested that I sing while I wash. I tried singing Happy Birthday, but I aged too fast. Singing my school alma mater got tiring since our tradition is to always stand and face Old Main as we sing. I tried a few hymns, but could only remember the first, second, and last verse (only readers my age and older will understand this), finally I settled on some Willie Nelson favorites. Then I remembered that the Psalms speak often of singing “a new song” (Psalm 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1). While I have written poetry, I had only seldom attempted to write songs. But, why not? After all, my age group has been told to stay at home all day, so I’m looking for things to fill my time. How’s this (with partial apologies to a really old Palacios Baptist Encampment song):
“Om-pa, om-pa, om-pa, om-pa,
killy, killy, killy, killy,
wash, wash, wash, wash,
key-eye, key-eye, ki-yah.
All hail to my good health; the sink is where I always start.
All hail to my clean hands, I pray they always match my heart.”

Thank you! Thank you very much!
“He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4). “I will wash my hands in innocence” (Psalm 26:6).

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford