Are you getting thinner?

Roughly three years ago, I began using body wash gel rather than regular bath soap for my morning shower. I felt cleaner. Then, about a year ago, I started taking Navy showers once again. Get wet. Soap up. Rinse down. It really does save water. I found also that the shower gel lasted about 25 percent longer.

One day, I noticed that the longer I used the same bottle of shower gel, the thinner it became until its viscosity was near that of water. I thought it was an aberration at first, but it has happened to subsequent bottles. I figure that over time the water separates from the other ingredients. The heavier ingredients sink to the bottom of the bottle and are pumped out first. The thinner soap still lathers and cleans well, but it gets thinner and thinner.

Many people have asked me over the years, “Why must I attend worship if I am a Christian? Can’t I worship and study the Bible on my own”? (That is a question that I asked at one point during my life.) “Yes,” I respond, “but do you?”

Rev. Rory Hermann Good Shepherd Lutheran Church I have learned after three decades in the ministry that Christians separated from the community of believers (the body of Christ) usually don’t. Separated from other Christians we may still lather (believe) and wash (do good works), but we get thinner and thinner. Our faith and strength get pumped out by all the challenges of life, and we need to return to the source!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Have an enjoyable and blessed Thanksgiving!