I have never swept dirt, but I see this practice often in Africa. Africans sweep the street, the sidewalk, and even the dirt - the dirt in front of their home or roadside stand.
They get up at the break of dawn to sweep their dirt and by the time commerce commences, all the leaves and rubbish are long gone and the evidence of their work tracks the ground. I’m told this practice began hundreds of years ago, beginning the day by symbolically sweeping away the evils of the night.
On our morning walks, the brooms we see are hand-made bundles of stiff bristles, straw, or grass, cut and wrapped with string or twine for the grip. Hence, the brooms are short, not much over a foot long, which requires the user to bend over to reach the ground.
It used to seem a little silly to me - dirt is already dirty, sweeping isn’t going to help. However, the more I see this labor, the more I admire these sweepers. They are caring for what they have been given. I love this example of the gratitude and stewardship over the tiny piece of earth they are blessed to use.
“For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.” (Doctrine & Covenants 104:13)
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