A Tale of Two Poufs

Because I’m supposed to be writing a statement of my teaching philosophy (whatever that actually is …) for job applications, I shall blog.  That’s writing, isn’t it?  Sure.

Back in October, my cousin Lauren and I were shopping for groceries and necessities at Walmart.  I have been sharing an apartment with my cousins Preston and Lauren down in Youngstown this school year.  It’s been great to have other people around – I’ve discovered that while I am ok with living by myself, I don’t prefer it.

Anyway.  Lauren and I found ourselves over by the shampoo aisle and suddenly (quite independently) remembered that we had wanted to get bath poufs (you know, those tulle spheres on a string?).  The fact that we were standing right in front of a bin of bath poufs might have had something to do with this revelation.  It took a few minutes of female decision making, but Lauren decided on a pink pouf and I claimed a green pouf.  I have this thing for lime green and aqua.  We were both happy with our colors and hung them in the shower with pride.

Fast forward a few weeks.  One morning, I realized that my green pouf was sitting on the little shelf in the shower – the string had come undone and it couldn’t be hung up anymore.  Oh well, the rest of the pouf was still intact; what can you expect from a $2.00 item?  Lauren’s pink pouf still hung with its string in a fully functional loop.  I didn’t think much of it and resumed regular use of the green pouf.  At dinner a few days later, Lauren and I were talking about going back to the grocery store.  Grocery shopping is our nemesis – we put it off as long as possible.  But there were a few staple items that we needed so a trip was in order. 

“Oh, and I need to get another pouf,” I recalled. “The string on mine broke about a week ago.  So cheaply made!”

“I know!” Lauren replied. “The string on mine broke a couple of days ago, too – I have to store it on the shelf in the shower since it can’t be hung up anymore.”

Hmm.  I mentally pictured the shower.  There definitely was only one pouf that had a broken string.  It was the green pouf.  Ah yes, that awkward moment when you realize that you and your cousin have been using the same green pouf for about a week.

That night, I bought a purple pouf.

If we played a different game of charades …

You put your hand in the bag and let your fingers dart around, chasing the little slips of paper. Got one! Whoops, no – that’s two. You awkwardly try and flick your fingers to separate the stubborn folded strips, hoping to avoid a paper cut in the process. One strip of paper finally gives up and lets go of the one you want. Finally! You withdraw your hand and glance at the name you just retrieved: Samson.


How do you act out Samson in a game of Bible charades? Well, you’re resourceful and imaginative. Most of the well-known people from the Bible are associated with a particular story or description of their character. Samson was strong. Zacchaeus was short. Mary Magdalene washed Jesus’ feet. Moses was used in the parting of the Red Sea. Deborah was a judge. Jonah ran from God. The list goes on.


And then you stop and think. What if we put my name and your name and the names of everyone we know on slips of paper … and had to act out each other?


Would I be known for being a gossip?
For being an encourager?
For being too sarcastic?
For being a person who prays?
For always being angry or crabby?
For being ready to serve others?
For being a procrastinator?
For always being happy?
For having an attitude?
For being a good friend?
For being proud and stuck up?
For reading the Word of God?


Would a friend act out someone entirely different than the side of me that my family sees?


I Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”


Whether I like it or not, people have impressions of me. I am known by my character. You are known by your character. We are associated with the characters of those that we hang around. Does my character reflect the love of Christ within me?


We are quick to jump on the “We shouldn’t judge people!” and “Don’t judge me!” bandwagon. True. I’m not saying that we should judge each other. But – if someone was put on the spot for a description of my character, what could they say? We each have a reputation. Even a child is known by their doings.


And you know what? Everybody guessed Samson – right away!