Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
This is easily one of the most recognizable verses in the entire Bible. How telling that a verse that deals with the worst experiences of our lives - death, tragedy, loss - is the one many of us can recite from memory. It is in those darkest times when we seek comfort and reassurance. And it is in our Shepherd that we find comfort and reassurance.
In his book "God's Psychiatry," Charles Allen states: "The Basque Sheepherder describes an actual Valley of the Shadow of Death in Palestine. It leads from Jarusalem to the Dead Sea and is a very narrow and dangerous pathway through the mountain range. The path is rough, and there is danger that a sheep may fall at any moment to its death. It is a forbidding journey that one dreads to take. But the sheep is not afraid. Why? Because the shepherd is with it."
As Mr. Allen points out, the Twenty-Third Psalm is the nightengale of the Psalms. The nightengale sings its sweetest when the night is darkest. When I have found myself in the valley of the shadow of death, it is daunting, overwhelming and terrifying. But always I find God to be nearer and clearer in the valley than at any other time in life. Sometimes I don't fully realize His nearness until the darkest part of the darkness has passed, but always I find Him. He doesn't "fix" things or erase the tragedy that has occurred, but He holds me as tightly and as long as I need. I can scream and cry, I can even question His place in it all...but still He holds me tight.
If you're like me, the second part of this verse - "your rod and your staff, they comfort me" - has always been a little confusing. What rod, what staff, and how could such things be comforting? Charles Allen explains: "The sheep is a helpless animal. It has no weapon with which to fight. It is easy prey to any wild beast of the field. It is afraid. But the shepherd carries a rod, which is a heavy, hard club two to three feet long. Also, the shepherd carries a staff, which is about eight feet long. The end of the staff is turned into a crook. Many paths in Palestine were along the steep sides of mountains. The sheep would lose its footing and slip down, hanging helplessly on some ledge below. With his staff, the shepherd could reach down, place the crook over the small chest of the sheep and lift it back onto the pathway. The sheep is instinctively comforted by the shepherd's rod and staff."
With the state of our world, it seems impossible that God could be near enough to comfort and protect us. But let's not forget that if the shepherd has the wisdom, compassion and know-how to protect and comfort a simple sheep, how much more does our Shepherd endeavor to do the same for us, His most prized possession? The valley may be dark and treacherous, but if we grab hold of God's hand, He will guide us back into the light.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
The Journey to Somewhere
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)
Continuing in his book "God's Psychiatry," Charles Allen states: "...the sheep has no sense of direction. A dog, a cat, or a horse, if lost, can find its way back. They seem to have a compass within themselves. Not so with a sheep. The sheep has very poor eyes. It cannot see ten or fifteen yards ahead. Palestinian fields were covered with narrow paths over which the shepherds led their sheep to pasture. Some of these paths led to a precipice over which the stupid sheep might fall to its death. Other paths lead up a blind alley. But some paths lead to green pastures and still waters. The sheep followed the shepherd, knowing it was walking in the right path. Sometimes the shepherd led over steep and difficult places, but the paths he followed always ended up somewhere. The sheep was willing to trust that 'somewhere' to the shepherd's judgment."
Oh how thankful I am to have a wise Shepherd to lead this blind and stupid sheep! This part of the 23rd Psalm, as well as the most familiar part yet to be discussed, gets to the heart of what it means to have faith. All of us face times of great difficulty in life. Some of those times are the result of our own sinfulness, while other times happen without our input or choosing. The question "Why is this happening?" or "Why did this have to happen?" is as natural and necessary to our existence as breathing. Devising a worldly answer to that question is a futile effort, because no such answer can satisfy the longing in our souls that prompted us to ask the question in the first place. If we trust God to lead us, even through the rough patches, then the "somehwere" He has in mind is the answer. Life is about both the journey and the destination. God is with us on the journey in order to ensure we reach the destination He has in mind. Our faithfulness during the journey and our gratefulness for the destination glorifies God...for His name's sake.
Charles Allen adds: "Notice that the Psalm says, 'He leadeth me.' God doesn't drive. He is climbing the same hill that we climb - man is not alone. As we take life one step at a time, we can walk with Him the right paths."
The only reliable compass we have is that of our Shepherd. He is our "true north." Let us confidently follow His lead.
Continuing in his book "God's Psychiatry," Charles Allen states: "...the sheep has no sense of direction. A dog, a cat, or a horse, if lost, can find its way back. They seem to have a compass within themselves. Not so with a sheep. The sheep has very poor eyes. It cannot see ten or fifteen yards ahead. Palestinian fields were covered with narrow paths over which the shepherds led their sheep to pasture. Some of these paths led to a precipice over which the stupid sheep might fall to its death. Other paths lead up a blind alley. But some paths lead to green pastures and still waters. The sheep followed the shepherd, knowing it was walking in the right path. Sometimes the shepherd led over steep and difficult places, but the paths he followed always ended up somewhere. The sheep was willing to trust that 'somewhere' to the shepherd's judgment."
Oh how thankful I am to have a wise Shepherd to lead this blind and stupid sheep! This part of the 23rd Psalm, as well as the most familiar part yet to be discussed, gets to the heart of what it means to have faith. All of us face times of great difficulty in life. Some of those times are the result of our own sinfulness, while other times happen without our input or choosing. The question "Why is this happening?" or "Why did this have to happen?" is as natural and necessary to our existence as breathing. Devising a worldly answer to that question is a futile effort, because no such answer can satisfy the longing in our souls that prompted us to ask the question in the first place. If we trust God to lead us, even through the rough patches, then the "somehwere" He has in mind is the answer. Life is about both the journey and the destination. God is with us on the journey in order to ensure we reach the destination He has in mind. Our faithfulness during the journey and our gratefulness for the destination glorifies God...for His name's sake.
Charles Allen adds: "Notice that the Psalm says, 'He leadeth me.' God doesn't drive. He is climbing the same hill that we climb - man is not alone. As we take life one step at a time, we can walk with Him the right paths."
The only reliable compass we have is that of our Shepherd. He is our "true north." Let us confidently follow His lead.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Looking Up
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters (Psalm 23:2)
My mother used to make me take naps when I was a young child, as I also did with my own child. Naps are wonderful things, aren’t they? They provide rest and refreshment, as well as the nurturing of growth and development. When we’re kids, we often rebel against them, thinking them unfair restrictions on our play time. As grown-ups, we may appreciate the physical and mental benefits of a nap, but the demands of adulthood often keep us (or discourage us) from partaking.
Even though we may have aged out of regularly-scheduled naptime, there are times when we are forced to take a rest – whether we want to or not. Stress piles up and affects the body in numerous ways, often in the form of illness or other ailments. For me it tends to be migraines. We are reminded that we cannot do everything and we are in fact in control of very little. Never is this more apparent than when our bodies give out under the strain of our feverish lives.
In his book "God’s Psychiatry," Charles Allen further describes the relationship between sheep and shepherd: "…the shepherd starts the sheep grazing about 4 o’clock in the morning. The sheep walk steadily as they graze; they are never still. By 10 o’clock, the sun is beaming down and the sheep are hot, tired, and thirsty. The wise shepherd knows that the sheep must not drink when it is hot, neither when its stomach is filled with undigested grass. So the shepherd makes the sheep lie down in green pastures, in a cool, soft spot. The sheep will not eat lying down, so he chews his cud, which is nature’s way of digestion."
Not only do we need physical rest, but we also need nourishment and refreshment. Human beings cannot survive for long periods without nutrients and fluids, and we certainly cannot thrive on grease and caffeine. Our bodies have needs and limitations which must be respected, no matter how frantically we pace ourselves. I’ll never forget how famished I was after my daughter was born. Her needs occupied every waking moment, such that I didn’t take time to eat until I was almost falling over from hunger. I felt inadequate and fearful that this was how life would always be. And then the doorbell rang and in walked some friends of ours, armed with grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, broccoli-cheese casserole, rolls hot from the oven, and a perfectly plump and juicy apple pie. To say that I licked my plate clean would be an understatement. Never before and not since has a meal refreshed me so completely.
The sheep is fearful of moving water because it cannot swim. It will not drink from swift waters, even if it is parched. The shepherd understands this and does not try to change it; rather, as Charles Allen states, "As he leads his sheep across the mountains and valleys, he is constantly on the watch for still waters where the thirst of the sheep may be quenched. If there are no still waters available, while the sheep are resting, the shepherd will gather up stones to fashion a dam across a small stream to form a pool from which even the tiniest lamb may drink without fear."
Our Heavenly Father knows us completely, including our needs, our strengths, our fears, and our limitations. Just as the sheep depends upon the wisdom and compassion of the shepherd to meet its needs, so too can we confidently depend on our Shepherd to meet ours. It is to our benefit to remember this as we carry about our day, but if we should forget, let us not complain when we are made to lie down. For, as Charles Allen asserts, it is often when we are lying flat on our backs that we are finally forced to look up.
My mother used to make me take naps when I was a young child, as I also did with my own child. Naps are wonderful things, aren’t they? They provide rest and refreshment, as well as the nurturing of growth and development. When we’re kids, we often rebel against them, thinking them unfair restrictions on our play time. As grown-ups, we may appreciate the physical and mental benefits of a nap, but the demands of adulthood often keep us (or discourage us) from partaking.
Even though we may have aged out of regularly-scheduled naptime, there are times when we are forced to take a rest – whether we want to or not. Stress piles up and affects the body in numerous ways, often in the form of illness or other ailments. For me it tends to be migraines. We are reminded that we cannot do everything and we are in fact in control of very little. Never is this more apparent than when our bodies give out under the strain of our feverish lives.
In his book "God’s Psychiatry," Charles Allen further describes the relationship between sheep and shepherd: "…the shepherd starts the sheep grazing about 4 o’clock in the morning. The sheep walk steadily as they graze; they are never still. By 10 o’clock, the sun is beaming down and the sheep are hot, tired, and thirsty. The wise shepherd knows that the sheep must not drink when it is hot, neither when its stomach is filled with undigested grass. So the shepherd makes the sheep lie down in green pastures, in a cool, soft spot. The sheep will not eat lying down, so he chews his cud, which is nature’s way of digestion."
Not only do we need physical rest, but we also need nourishment and refreshment. Human beings cannot survive for long periods without nutrients and fluids, and we certainly cannot thrive on grease and caffeine. Our bodies have needs and limitations which must be respected, no matter how frantically we pace ourselves. I’ll never forget how famished I was after my daughter was born. Her needs occupied every waking moment, such that I didn’t take time to eat until I was almost falling over from hunger. I felt inadequate and fearful that this was how life would always be. And then the doorbell rang and in walked some friends of ours, armed with grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, broccoli-cheese casserole, rolls hot from the oven, and a perfectly plump and juicy apple pie. To say that I licked my plate clean would be an understatement. Never before and not since has a meal refreshed me so completely.
The sheep is fearful of moving water because it cannot swim. It will not drink from swift waters, even if it is parched. The shepherd understands this and does not try to change it; rather, as Charles Allen states, "As he leads his sheep across the mountains and valleys, he is constantly on the watch for still waters where the thirst of the sheep may be quenched. If there are no still waters available, while the sheep are resting, the shepherd will gather up stones to fashion a dam across a small stream to form a pool from which even the tiniest lamb may drink without fear."
Our Heavenly Father knows us completely, including our needs, our strengths, our fears, and our limitations. Just as the sheep depends upon the wisdom and compassion of the shepherd to meet its needs, so too can we confidently depend on our Shepherd to meet ours. It is to our benefit to remember this as we carry about our day, but if we should forget, let us not complain when we are made to lie down. For, as Charles Allen asserts, it is often when we are lying flat on our backs that we are finally forced to look up.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Simple Slice of Bread
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)
Several years ago, a dear friend and I read a book entitled "God’s Psychiatry" by Charles L. Allen, and my Bible study group is reading it today. First published in 1953, the book breaks down the Bible’s most influential and well-known verses into a scripturally sound, thought-provoking, easy to understand narrative. Specifically, the book discusses the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes. Based on may of the intriguing insights the author had, I felt it would be appropriate to share some of them in this blog.
The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the most highly-recognized of all 150 psalms, recited frequently at funerals – and for good reason. It is not about death; rather, it is about the confidence and comfort we find in God. So powerful are the truths contained in this psalm that Charles Allen has prescribed the daily reading and mediation of it as a cure for distress of many kinds. He may be onto something. Have you ever really thought about the words – I mean really let them sink into your bones? I admit that I have not. Perhaps like other verses or phrases we've heard often in life - biblical or otherwise - repetition can sometimes cause us to lose the impact.
I’ve also never really stopped to consider the depth of God’s comparison of us to sheep. My 21st Century mental picture of a flock of sheep looks something like this: they are dumb and half-blind, always in danger and at the mercy of everything around them – thus in need of a shepherd to guard them and get them safely from point A to point B. I can see how I am much like a sheep, in need of God’s guidance. As always seems to be the case, though, there’s much more to it than that. Charles Allen states, "Instinctively, the sheep knows the shepherd has made plans for its grazing tomorrow. He knows the shepherd made ample provision for it today, so will he tomorrow, so the sheep lies down in its fold…" Notice that this verse does not say "I hope God will be my shepherd." It says, "God IS my shepherd." That fact that God IS means that I shall not want.
To further illustrate this point, the author offers a story so touching, it begs to be shared: "Immediately after World War II, the Allied Forces gathered up many hungry, homeless children and placed them in large camps. There the children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well. They seemed restless and afraid. Finally, a psychologist hit on a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread to hold. If they wanted more to eat, more was provided, but this particular slice was not to be eaten – it was just to hold. The slice of bread produced marvelous results. The child would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling it would have something to eat tomorrow. The assurance gave the child a calm and peaceful rest."
No matter what we’ve lost, no matter what tomorrow holds, we can rest assured that God will be with us and our needs will be provided for. We can rest comfortably, slice of bread in hand, because the Lord IS our shepherd. We shall not want.
Several years ago, a dear friend and I read a book entitled "God’s Psychiatry" by Charles L. Allen, and my Bible study group is reading it today. First published in 1953, the book breaks down the Bible’s most influential and well-known verses into a scripturally sound, thought-provoking, easy to understand narrative. Specifically, the book discusses the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes. Based on may of the intriguing insights the author had, I felt it would be appropriate to share some of them in this blog.
The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the most highly-recognized of all 150 psalms, recited frequently at funerals – and for good reason. It is not about death; rather, it is about the confidence and comfort we find in God. So powerful are the truths contained in this psalm that Charles Allen has prescribed the daily reading and mediation of it as a cure for distress of many kinds. He may be onto something. Have you ever really thought about the words – I mean really let them sink into your bones? I admit that I have not. Perhaps like other verses or phrases we've heard often in life - biblical or otherwise - repetition can sometimes cause us to lose the impact.
I’ve also never really stopped to consider the depth of God’s comparison of us to sheep. My 21st Century mental picture of a flock of sheep looks something like this: they are dumb and half-blind, always in danger and at the mercy of everything around them – thus in need of a shepherd to guard them and get them safely from point A to point B. I can see how I am much like a sheep, in need of God’s guidance. As always seems to be the case, though, there’s much more to it than that. Charles Allen states, "Instinctively, the sheep knows the shepherd has made plans for its grazing tomorrow. He knows the shepherd made ample provision for it today, so will he tomorrow, so the sheep lies down in its fold…" Notice that this verse does not say "I hope God will be my shepherd." It says, "God IS my shepherd." That fact that God IS means that I shall not want.
To further illustrate this point, the author offers a story so touching, it begs to be shared: "Immediately after World War II, the Allied Forces gathered up many hungry, homeless children and placed them in large camps. There the children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well. They seemed restless and afraid. Finally, a psychologist hit on a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread to hold. If they wanted more to eat, more was provided, but this particular slice was not to be eaten – it was just to hold. The slice of bread produced marvelous results. The child would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling it would have something to eat tomorrow. The assurance gave the child a calm and peaceful rest."
No matter what we’ve lost, no matter what tomorrow holds, we can rest assured that God will be with us and our needs will be provided for. We can rest comfortably, slice of bread in hand, because the Lord IS our shepherd. We shall not want.
Friday, July 20, 2012
In Times of Drought
On the last and greatest day of
the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let
anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever
believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from
within them.” (John 7:37-38)
Other than the presidential race, the most enduring news
from the summer is the drought impacting much of the nation. High temperature records are being broken
nearly every day. Rain is scarce and
when it comes, it’s usually accompanied by damaging winds and lightning. Corn and soybean crops are withering away,
which will soon affect prices at the grocery store. Rationing on the use of water is likely just
around the corner.
All of this got me to thinking about a drought of a
different kind – a drought of faith. When
folks don’t have Christ in their lives – or if He has been pushed aside by the
demands and sufferings that come with living in the world – then a drought
ensues. Just like with the physical
drought our nation is experiencing now, it is possible to function in the midst
of a faith drought. One can continue to
work and engage in daily activities, but there’s something missing and although
it’s hard to pinpoint, it’s tangible – a spark, a sense of purpose, a feeling of
direction, of genuineness, of acceptance, or of love. The absence of these things does not prevent
one from getting through the day, but the weight of that absence makes it more difficult
and far less joyful. The longer the
drought, the more difficult it becomes.
If you recall, 2011 was an especially wet year for this part
of the country – the annual rainfall total was well above normal. We were thankful for the water we needed and we
did our best to deal with the excess and the gloomy skies. This year, we are baked and arid, the mere
sight of a cloudy sky filling us with hope.
Generations of humanity have dealt with the cyclical changes of
Creation. But whether it’s a time of
feast or famine, in nature or in our souls, there is a well-spring of Life at
the ready. He is always waiting to fill
us up when we are empty, and He gives us the desire to water the souls of those
around us when our cups run over. All we
need is to trust the endurance of the source.
No matter what season we may be in, if we trust in Jesus
with all that we have, rivers of living water will flow from within us, nourishing ourselves and those around us – at exactly
the right time, in exactly the right amount. It will flow from within us because that is
where the Spirit of the Living God resides – and only good can flow from God’s
dwelling place.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
A Marvelous Collision
Lord, my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. (Psalm 30:2)
If you listen to Christian rock on the radio, you've likely heard by now the newest installment from the band MercyMe, entitled "The Hurt and the Healer." I don't know about you, but music speaks to me in a way that words on a page simply cannot. The Bible speaks of the healing power of faith in Christ, timeless words that clearly convey God's love for us. But when someone puts that truth into song, it saturates the heart in miraculous ways. MeryMe's song is one of those heart-saturating truth-tellers for me. Sometimes I sing it with passion behind the wheel of my car, while other times I just listen, the lump in my throat forbidding me to utter a sound. But always, I feel compelled to add a resounding "Amen."
I love to write, although evidenced by my sparse posting on this blog of late, sometimes I can't seem to grasp what I want to say. Blogger's block, I suppose? I recently entered a short story in a writing contest, my first-ever attempt at fiction. I have no illusions of winning anything, but the submission process got me to thinking. A little-known fact about me is that I am actually published. There is a story tucked away in the latter half of a book published a few years ago, a story written from the depths of me - so personal, in fact, that I opted to use a pen name. I received no compensation for it and only a handful of people in the world know that I authored it. The story is my testimony, and had MeryMe's song been around at the time, I might have stolen their title. Among a handful of writing I have submitted for publication over the years, only this was chosen for publication. I pray this means that my testimony is touching a life or two out there. I will never know in this life, but the privilege of worshipping God on paper is in itself a reward beyond compare.
Simply put, there is nothing more miraculous, more significant to me, than the marvelous result from the collision between a person's hurt and his/her healer. It took me much too long to realize who that healer is - not a friend, not someone who pretends to be a friend, not a psychologist, nor a bottle filled with booze or pills. Now that I know Jesus is the healer of all our hurts - no matter how big or small - I can't help but to share the cure with others. The One who took upon His flesh the sins of the world knows a thing or two about hurt. The One who rose from the dead, tearing the veil separating us from God, also knows a thing or two about healing. Thank you, Lord, for loving us...for loving me...that much.
Haven't heard "The Hurt and the Healer"? Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNSlQWdgec&feature=related
Blessings to all,
Becky
If you listen to Christian rock on the radio, you've likely heard by now the newest installment from the band MercyMe, entitled "The Hurt and the Healer." I don't know about you, but music speaks to me in a way that words on a page simply cannot. The Bible speaks of the healing power of faith in Christ, timeless words that clearly convey God's love for us. But when someone puts that truth into song, it saturates the heart in miraculous ways. MeryMe's song is one of those heart-saturating truth-tellers for me. Sometimes I sing it with passion behind the wheel of my car, while other times I just listen, the lump in my throat forbidding me to utter a sound. But always, I feel compelled to add a resounding "Amen."
I love to write, although evidenced by my sparse posting on this blog of late, sometimes I can't seem to grasp what I want to say. Blogger's block, I suppose? I recently entered a short story in a writing contest, my first-ever attempt at fiction. I have no illusions of winning anything, but the submission process got me to thinking. A little-known fact about me is that I am actually published. There is a story tucked away in the latter half of a book published a few years ago, a story written from the depths of me - so personal, in fact, that I opted to use a pen name. I received no compensation for it and only a handful of people in the world know that I authored it. The story is my testimony, and had MeryMe's song been around at the time, I might have stolen their title. Among a handful of writing I have submitted for publication over the years, only this was chosen for publication. I pray this means that my testimony is touching a life or two out there. I will never know in this life, but the privilege of worshipping God on paper is in itself a reward beyond compare.
Simply put, there is nothing more miraculous, more significant to me, than the marvelous result from the collision between a person's hurt and his/her healer. It took me much too long to realize who that healer is - not a friend, not someone who pretends to be a friend, not a psychologist, nor a bottle filled with booze or pills. Now that I know Jesus is the healer of all our hurts - no matter how big or small - I can't help but to share the cure with others. The One who took upon His flesh the sins of the world knows a thing or two about hurt. The One who rose from the dead, tearing the veil separating us from God, also knows a thing or two about healing. Thank you, Lord, for loving us...for loving me...that much.
Haven't heard "The Hurt and the Healer"? Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNSlQWdgec&feature=related
Blessings to all,
Becky
Monday, June 25, 2012
Judging the Kiwi
Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the
heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b
At the first night of VBS this week, the kids learned the
above verse that echoes (or perhaps gave birth to) the popular phrase, “don’t judge
a book by its cover.” This is one of
those life lessons that we hear so many times through the years that it almost
becomes lost in translation. We know
that a person’s true worth is found within, and yet we still have a hard time
looking past the exterior. This is
certainly true in our evaluations of others, but it’s also true in terms of how
we view ourselves. If we don’t look a
certain way – whether by the shape of our bodies or the clothes we throw on
them – then we tend to feel “lesser” than others. By contrast, when we happen to be sporting
the latest style, we feel pretty good about ourselves. The problem of course is that no amount of
style can enhance or mask what lives inside us, where cellulite and fashion
have no place.
Supposedly, human beings are hard-wired to be attracted to
features in others that would be considered “genetically strong,” such as
symmetry. The theory behind this is that
we are drawn to folks that have the best possible chance of promoting the
strongest/healthiest human traits going forward. I don’t know about that, but what I do know is
that God created us to love others as a direct reflection of His love. The last time I checked, such love has zero
physical stipulations attached to it; rather, it requires a heart for service
and a soul filled with the loving power of the Holy Spirit. Whether the scientists are accurate or not
doesn’t really matter in terms of the fate of humanity. Instead of searching for the physical traits
that promote strong genetics, we should instead seek out, lift up and “procreate”
the predisposition for love that we all possess.
Each of us has a story to tell that would perfectly
illustrate the importance of looking at the heart. Each of us has encountered someone with
less-than-desirable physical traits who is a genuinely loving, compassionate
person. More commonly than that,
perhaps, are stories we could tell of attractive, well-groomed folks whose
words and deeds reflected a rotting interior.
The trick is in being able to evaluate others the way God does, which we
could perhaps best do blindfolded.
Whenever I think of this particular lesson, I think of the
kiwi, that delightfully delicious tropical fruit with the vibrant green
interior. In terms of its flavor, it is
one of my most favorite fruits. But let’s
be honest – it is as ugly a thing to behold as you can find. If we judged the kiwi strictly by its outward
appearance, no one would ever touch it. Actually,
I’m amazed that at some point in human history, some curious and perhaps
famished soul decided to throw caution to the wind, crack one open and give it
a taste. Whoever this person was, he or
she was operating entirely on the faith that something better was within.
Maybe we’ll never be able to completely shirk off the
tendency to be attracted to outward beauty, but let’s not forget that when we bypass
someone who doesn’t fit our criteria for beauty, we might just be missing out
on a kiwi.
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