A CLEAN SWEEP

I love to sweep. No matter where I live, I find a way to extend my housework out of doors. In Belize I got up every morning to sweep and mop the beautiful glazed tile on our wrap-around deck. In Virginia, I began each day by cleaning stalls and sweeping the barn aisle. Then I’d take my trusty wheelbarrow and pick up the horse poop from our 5 acres of pasture.

These days, I step outside my apartment and sweep the front steps. When I have the time, I fill a bucket with hot, soapy water and scrub them clean. Both the process and the results are immensely gratifying. After I’m finished, I leave my apartment several times to look at my work. I like knowing that I can walk up and down those steps in my bare feet without getting dirty. I’ve satisfied my desire for stewardship and received a sense of closure.