Found it! Next to Godliness

Get out of the house, man!

I've been at the University two weeks. It dawned on me that I've only been to two places: the library, and the university center. I ought to see the rest of the campus, check out the science facilities and sneak a peek at the research. Exploring paid off in a practical way.

A whole new world

The clock tower attached to the library sang as I set out to explore. A good omen. I also came across a Peaceful Tree from 1988 that apparently was replaced by a younger version in 2013. I'll count that as a win too; I'm two for two. Afterwards I wandered into some buildings.

Fortune smiles

Then I found it! I knew there should be shower facilities somewhere on campus, (for those hip young professors who commute on bikes). I just didn't know where and how accessible.

Experience pays off

On the campus of George Mason University in Virginia where I attended, I had learned to identify the look of a hidden shower. One night I was drenched in a rain storm and ducked into a Biology building for shelter. All the people who had business there had gone home, so I had plenty of time and freedom to wander around while I waited for the last shuttle of the day.

As I walked down the hallways, by chance I came across a restroom and wondered if there would be a way to dry off inside. To my delight, inside I found a shower stall. I peeled off my wet clothes, relaxed in a stream of hot water, then patted myself down with paper towels.

Being observant is an equal part intuition

Afterwards I noticed the signage and doorway had a somewhat industrial look. The additional space taken up by the shower stall as well as the additional plumbing required an awkwardness about its location. Intuition from this experience prompted me to instinctively recognize the exterior look of a hidden shower at the Colorado Springs university today.

While walking through the Science Building, one of the men's rooms next to some physics labs seemed auspiciously housed. I opened the door and Ta Da! Inside, there was a shower stall tucked to one side.

Universal Symbol For:
Woohoo! Free Shower! (top)
For Guy Sleeps in His Car (bottom)

The purity of fear

There's no passage in the Bible that says 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness' - it's just an old saying, but this quote below may be the closest thing to one. I find that fear is a much more suitable Biblical message than hygiene. It was appropriate for me too, today.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.” – Psalm 19:9 NKJV

Fear of the Lord

I went to my car for clean clothes and supplies. Returning to the shower, prepared with a song in my heart and soaps in my pack, I met with a startling sight. There was a professor working in a lab nearby. His presence instilled the fear of God in my throat and I surreptitiously circumnavigated his line of sight. Then my heart skipped another beat when I noticed a grad student studying in the lounge.

Fear is hard to wash off

I know that those scientists were there minding their own work, and wouldn't pay a second thought to me. Even if they did, what are the chances would they to oust me as a smelly homeless trespasser? Nevertheless, against all reason and experience... as the Bible passage says, the fear of the Lord endures forever.