"To pray as only laundry can"

When I went to Barcelona in November of 2011 to spend a few days with my sister, I was really hoping to get a beautiful photo of laundry hanging on a window line. And can you believe it--this was the very first photo I took, just outside of the train station within minutes of my arrival. But I didn't know it was this sweet until I was thinking about laundry today, remembered this photo and decided to pull it out and work on it (instead of doing the wash!). I wish hanging out my laundry was this pretty!

Beauty, sacredness in the ordinary. I have been craving this very thing. And then my dear friend Amie sent me these song lyrics just yesterday:
"Holy as a Day is Spent"

by Carrie Newcomer 

Holy is the dish and drain 

The soap and sink, and the cup and plate

And the warm wool socks, and cold white tile

Showerheads and good dry towels

And frying eggs sound like psalms

With a bit of salt measured in my palm

It's all a part of a sacrament

As holy as a day is spent

Holy is the busy street

And cars that boom with passion's beat

And the check out girl, counting change

And the hands that shook my hand today

And hymns of geese fly overhead

And stretch their wings like their parents did

Blessed be the dog, that runs in her sleep

To catch that wild and elusive thing

Holy is the familiar room

And the quiet moments in the afternoon

And folding sheets like folding hands

To pray as only laundry can

I'm letting go of all I fear

Like autumn leaves of earth and air

For summer came and summer went

And holy as a day is spent

Holy is the place I stand

To give whatever small good I can

And the empty page and the open book

Redemption everywhere I look

Unknowingly we slow our pace

In the shade of unexpected grace

And with grateful smiles and sad lament

As holy as a day is spent

And morning light sings "Providence"

As holy as a day is spent

Gorgeous. I'm soaking in these words today and more like them as I've discovered Carrie Newcomer's soothing, soul-stirring music. These lyrics are from a song on her newest CD. You can listen to some of her music on her website; this album is definitely going to the top spot on my wishlist.