The Dryer by Samantha Clague

It was one of those days when the typical morning routine suddenly wasn’t typical.  It began with a leaky ceiling that led to a broken garbage disposal and cupboard full of water.  As the day progressed it was fraught with lost gloves, windshield wipers that had seen better days, an unexpectedly broken rear view mirror and finally the clothes dryer making a “klunking noise.”  Exasperated I said a quick prayer for patience and strength and then felt a little sheepish for asking for the mundane when certainly Hashem was busy with bigger and better things.  I took a deep breath, tried to  find my center, and then recalled a beautiful idea.

Hashem is all powerful and can do anything and this idea is expressed in the description of the first of the 10 commandments.

” I am G-d, your G-d, who took you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Hashem broke the Egyptian nation, the greatest empire in the world in order to free the Jews.  We could understand this idea with just the first words of the pasuk, why add “out of the house of bondage.”  These additional words tell us something so important.  Not only does Hashen involve himself in events that change the world, Hashem is involved in all the details of every resident in every house.  He loves, cares for, and guides us in every detail of our lives.

Feeling a little more centered, I returned to the day feeling a little lighter, but what happens next brought tears to my eyes and gratitude to my lips. The klunking dryer was dismantled by my husband for repair and what he found was scorch marks and lots of burnt debris.

Hashem, in his kindness, cared enough for me and mine to make the dryer klunk, and in doing so prevented true tragedy….a fire.

Next time the day feels tough ask Hashem for strength, even for the mundane, and remember that sometimes we are blessed with a dryer that klunks.