What Washing Dishes Taught Me

When my family and I moved to Canada in the middle of 2024, life shifted in unexpected ways. Everything felt fresh - the culture, the weather, the pace of daily life. Back in Vietnam, my in-laws lived with us, so sharing housework was normal. Here in Canada, it’s just my wife and me, managing all the responsibilities ourselves. One simple task I took on was washing the dishes. We had a dishwasher, but I wasn’t convinced it did the best job. I convinced myself that washing by hand made everything cleaner, so day after day, I scrubbed each plate and bowl myself.

At first, it seemed like a small thing. But after a few weeks, I started to notice changes. The skin on my fingers became rough, dry, and cracked. My hands felt like sandpaper, and when they touched my skin, it was uncomfortable. The irritation in my fingertips somehow spread, making me feel uneasy all over. It felt like everything was wrong, but honestly, the problem was just in one tiny spot. A little rough patch made everything seem off.

That experience reminded me of an old story about a king travelling through his kingdom. He went through villages, over hills, and across rocky paths, and when he returned to his palace, his feet were sore. Frustrated, he declared that every road should be covered with leather so no one would have to walk on rough ground again. It was a huge project—thousands of cattle, countless workers, and much money.

But before they started, one of his servants suggested something simple: “My king, instead of covering every road with leather, why not just put a piece of leather on your feet?” The king paused and realized how wise this was. Why change the entire kingdom when he could simply wear shoes? Instead of fixing the roads, he fixed himself—and his problem was solved.

This story shows us a simple truth: real change starts from within. The king had the power to reshape his environment, just like we sometimes think we need to change everything around us. But the most effective change is inward. My rough hands reminded me of this— I didn’t need my whole body to change, only my habit. Gloves could have saved me a lot of trouble. Similarly, we often believe our peace, joy, or growth depends on external circumstances changing. But maybe, real transformation begins inside us.

Young Christians especially often feel a strong desire to change the world. We see injustice and want to fight it. We see pain and want to heal it. We see suffering and want to help. These are holy desires. But Scripture reminds us that before we bring change to others, God needs to change us first. Romans 12:2 encourages us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The world changes through transformed people, those whose hearts have been shaped by God before they try to shape society.

Many people spend their lives feeling frustrated by the “rough roads” around them, like life’s challenges, others’ flaws, and broken systems. They try to fix everything, hoping that fixing the outside will remove their discomfort. But we can’t control everything in the world. We can’t make others behave differently. What we can do is work on ourselves. The king couldn’t remove every rock in his kingdom, but he could put on shoes. And we might not be able to remove every hardship, but we can grow in wisdom, patience, character, and faith to handle challenges better.

Jesus speaks directly about this in Matthew 7:3-5. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” It’s often easier to point out others’ faults than to face our own weaknesses. But Jesus teaches us that only when God transforms us first can we honestly and kindly help others.

Nehemiah understood this well. When he heard Jerusalem’s walls were broken, his first response wasn’t to give orders or start rebuilding. He wept. He fasted. He prayed. He repented. He sought God’s work in his own heart before lifting a single stone. Because he started from within, God blessed his leadership, and the walls were rebuilt.

Even Jesus, who could have changed the world instantly, chose to transform people one heart at a time. He didn’t lead with politics or social reform. Instead, He discipled a few, healed the hurting, forgave sinners, and loved deeply and personally. His example shows us that world-changing movements start with God changing a person.

So what does this mean for young believers today? Before we try to influence our schools, workplaces, families, or communities, we should ask: Has God shaped my heart? Am I pursuing holiness before asking others to do the same? Am I developing patience, courage, love, and honesty inside myself? Before trying to make the world less rough, are we putting on the shoes God has given us - faith, wisdom, resilience, humility?

The world will always have rocky paths. But those who allow God to transform them will find the strength to keep moving forward. Instead of waiting for circumstances to improve, we can grow stronger. Instead of expecting others to change, we can allow God to refine us. The world doesn’t need more critics; it needs more Christlike people who quietly and faithfully live out the gospel every day.

So put on the shoes of righteousness. Walk the path God has placed in front of you. Let Him work in your heart first. Because when God transforms you, He will use your life to bring change in ways far greater - and far deeper - than anything you could accomplish by trying to change the world alone.

Transformation begins within. And from that place, God can reshape the world through you.