As I see it: Why I have a broom in my shower

Knowledge, like a scrubby broom, is a useful tool. Photo by Patty Juliuson

By Patty Juliuson, Columnist

I  have a small broom in my shower. It’s more of a scrubby-broom than a sweepy-broom, if you know what I mean.

From what Ronna Fisher tells me, keeping a broom in the shower is not a normal thing… well, then.

I started this habit when we lived in Japan. In that culture, the bathroom was just for the bath. The toilet was in its own little closet in another area, and our bathroom was the size of Dr. Poteet’s office. No kidding. 

Every surface except the ceiling was tiled, which, I must tell you, got pretty stinkin’ cold in the winter. We had a soaking tub, very deep and very short. There was no shower stall per se, but the regular faucet and shower attachment came out of the tiled wall and there was a drain in the floor. The very cold tiled floor…

Anyway, if you’ve never cleaned a Japanese bathroom, you just haven’t lived. It’s like shaving a bear– where do you stop? With all that tile in a humid climate, it got nasty really quick.

My solution? The broom in the shower. After my bath, I would wrap up in my shower robe and go to town on the tile. A splash of cleaner, a little scrubby- scrub-scrub, a quick rinse, and I was done. Having the useful tools handy meant that I could take care of it right away and save myself a lot of work later.

Knowledge, like my little scrubby broom, is a very useful tool. It can help you recognize steps to take to avoid suffering the consequences of your own stupidity, which, frankly, is priceless. There are certain things in life that challenge everyone, and the best way to equip yourself is to have the knowledge to deal with a problem before you actually need it.

Challenged with handling money? I recommend you read and implement Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” BEFORE you are drowning in debt.

Have anger issues? Talk to a counselor and practice your coping skills NOW before your behavior damages important relationships.

Can’t stop engaging in things that can harm you mentally, physically, or spiritually? Do the smart thing and get help NOW.

I know you can’t avoid all the nasties of life; sometimes, things just happen. You look around one day and realize you have let a bad situation get the best of you, like mold on tile. But you can be ready to take action.

Everybody is confronted with daunting situations. Arm yourself now for what you know is coming.

Knowledge IS power, people, and implementing knowledge correctly is wisdom. Proverbs 2:10-11 says, “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

And a little scrub keeps the mold off. Now who doesn’t want that?

See you in class.