of babies and bathwater

"Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater", we cry.

Yes - but there's more to this problem than meets the eye, isn't there.

Because if we throw out the baby with the bathwater then that's a catastrophe. We get rid of the bathwater ( hooray ! ) but woe is me, baby is lost.

But if we keep the baby in the bathwater then we get to keep the baby ( hooray ! ) but sadly we also have to keep the bathwater ( yuk ! ) and what is more the bathwater will deteriorate and the baby will also be harmed by its ever-more-foul presence.

Of course it is always possible that we will opt for the worst case, jettison the bonny baby ( shame ! ) and keep the bathwater ( grooo ! ).

A surprising degree of acuity and life experience is needed to discern between baby and bathwater, to know exactly where the baby ends and where the bathwater begins, and to jettison all the bathwater and retain all the baby - especially because to begin with both smell the same - of Tesceaux Baby Bath. One however is precious and worthwhile ( baby ) while the other is worthless and noxious ( bathwater ).

May we develop more and more this essential discernment that our lives may be full of babies and free of bathwater.
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Comments

joydriven said…
you are hilarious, as usual. but very good points. and a good cause to pray.
6:09 pm
Amrita said…
This exercise will stretcha nd strengthen our spiritual muscles.
6:15 am
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