The Law of the Oatmeal Brush

This is an extract from the book God Is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg:

Sin always has the consequence of damaging our ability to perceive God in the present moment. Consider, for example, the Law of the Oatmeal Brush.

For some years I have been trying to make each day an adventure in practicing God's presence. I try to direct my thoughts toward Him first thing when I wake up in the morning. On one particular morning I was getting ready to leave for work. I'd had oatmeal for breakfast, and after I finished washing my dishes, the white scrub brush in our sink was covered with oatmeal.

My wife asked me, " Are you done with this brush? If you are, it's be helpful to just whack it on the sink, get the oatmeal stuff out."

I was feeling defensive. I had actually been kind of proud of myself for washing the dishes in the first place. I didn't want someone telling me to clean the oatmeal brush.

So what I said was, "No, I'm not done with it." The reality is that the dishes were done. What was I pretending I was going to do with it? Brush the oatmeal junk into my hair? It wasn't just a lie - it was an unbelievably stupid lie. Even I couldn't pretend to believe it for a second.

But as long as I tried to maintain it, a strange dynamic was at work in my spirit. I had to muster up enough anger and hurt and pride to justify my deceit. I had to cut myself off from humility and truth. I had to say the prayer, "Don't look at me, God."

And as soon as I confessed the ridiculous truth to my wife, I could quit hiding.

The Law of the Oatmeal Brush is that every choice to sin - no matter how small - diminishes my capacity to experience God. Now, every morning when I see the Oatmeal Brush, it has become a kind of icon for me. It reminds me of how quickly I can go into hiding.