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The Janitor in Our Church
The janitor in our church, oh he always works so hard,
He cleans the carpets, mows the yard,
Scrubs the toilets, mops the floors,
And a dozen other chores.
The janitor in our church washes windows without streaks,
Fixes plumbing when it leaks,
I have rarely heard him speak,
Until, that is, last week.
Last Sunday morning when we gathered for church
People were talking over coffee and just standing around
It suddenly occurred to us we’d better start a search,
Because our senior pastor was nowhere to be found.
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A phone call solved the mystery, when we called to inquire
We learned he had a flat tire,
His house was a half hour away,
He didn’t know what to say.
He apologized profusely and said “Just worship without me.
I really am sorry.
Read the scripture, sing the songs,
You don’t need to stay too long.”
We started our worship, we were very determined.
We prayed and we sang, and we read the word.
We figured this time we could just skip the sermon.
Then a still, small voice in the room was heard.
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The janitor in our church said “If you think it’s okay,
I could give a message today.
There are a couple things I could say,
If you’re willing to stay.”
We looked at each other very much surprised,
You could see it in our eyes.
And as he took the mic,
We wondered: what will this be like?
He spoke and said “God is like a woman with a broom.
She has ten coins but loses one on the floor.
She first lights a lamp, then she sweeps every room
Until she has found her lost coin once more.”
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He expanded on that analogy—the one about sweeping.
A woman behind me started weeping,
Someone shouted “amen.”
So he opened the Bible again.
He found the book of John—there in chapter 13
The one where Jesus kneels to clean
All the feet of his friends
And I heard some more amens.
He emphasized Jesus’ words of how this was an example
That the greatest among us was willing to wash feet.
Then the janitor asked if anyone would like a sample;
He took his mop bucket (which I hope was clean) and sat down in the front seat.
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Then it was a miracle—everyone took off their shoes
Not a single person refused.
We lined up down the aisle.
I admit I had to smile.
The water felt so good, and it kind of tickled,
But only just a little.
He used a towel to pat us dry
And he looked us in the eye.
When everyone had been served, then he offered up a prayer:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Disinfect me, sanitize me, polish, buff, and purify me.”
Before he was through, people started to applaud.
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Then he said “If you don’t mind, I have a song I’d like to sing;
It isn’t fancy, or anything,
It’s just an old Shaker song.
You are welcome to sing along.”
He leaned back, closed his eyes, and he let the music flow,
Very pianissimo,
Reverent and slow,
He called it “Bow Down Low.”
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Bow down low, and bend your head.
Bow down low, and bend your head,
For I’ve come to sweep this house,
For to sweep the Lord’s house clean.
Yes, I’ve come to wash and clean
From this floor the stains of sin,
For, lo I’ve come again,
And I’ve not come in vain.
Sweep high, sweep low,
Sweep clean as you go.
Bow down low, and bend your head,
For to sweep the Lord’s house clean.
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As he sang his song, I looked at the people in their places.
There were tears on many faces,
Several knelt to pray,
Some gave their lives to Christ that day.
But the real miracle was something that a lot of people missed
I looked at the trustees’ sign up list
Of volunteers to help keep the church clean,
It had sixteen new names, so I made it seventeen.
Then the janitor in our church said “I’d better get going now,
But I’ll be right back to clean up the sanctuary.
I’ll go help our pastor change his tire, I guess he doesn’t know how.
There must be some things they don’t teach you in seminary.”
(c) 2007 David Golden
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