AUGUST 23, 2022
ON THE PORCH
WHAT’S UNDERNEATH?
“You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love and did not die for.” – Anonymous
Early yesterday morning, while working up in my shop, I lifted the lid and took this picture of my laser cutting a card. The light seemed to be shining “just right” to make this beautiful image I captured. It reminded me of a star. We love to add the extra rays when learning to draw stars because it adds to the plain shape and looks prettier.
Most people who know me know that I don’t dress up and doll up often. I can if I choose to, but I normally hit the ground running and makeup and accessorizing are not a priority to me. I’ve said many times that I am “not the normal pastor’s wife,” and I’ve used the phrase “what you see is what you get.” Benny and I are a little (or a lot) weird at times, and we are totally okay with that.
But to be open and honest this morning, I would replace that age-old adage with “What you see is only what I want you to see…” CBV (“Chris Baker version”) I only show what I feel is appropriate for whatever role I’m in.
I have an assortment of friends from one end of the spectrum to the other…literally.
Extroverts/Introverts
Complex thinkers/Simple minded
Short/Tall
Rich/Poor
Public/Private
Christian/Secular
Confident/Low self-esteem
Giant/Tiny
Lovable/Prickly
Socially acceptable/Socially awkward
Old/young
Healthy/sick
“Important”/”Discarded”
Law abiders/Law breakers
Nature-lovers/Booklovers
Overweight/Underweight
Musical/Tone deaf
Happy/Grumpy
Successful/Still-finding-their-way
Black/White/Red/Green/Yellow/Orange
Today God is showing me no matter what someone’s status may be, they are special. God knit them together in their mother’s womb…every single person I’ve ever met. Period.
**Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. 2 Samuel 14:25
When reading this verse, my first thoughts of Absalom were positive. Growing up he might have been a good kid, the Bible doesn’t say. But he ended up being one of the most selfish, evil, self-serving characters in the Bible, in my opinion. Absalom proclaimed himself king and tried to overthrow his father, King David. He chased David and his closest family out of town and tried to take over his household. He killed many, including his brother. He was a manipulator and liar. His story is surely one for the books, and there is plenty I haven’t noted.
Now, for another verse…
**For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53:2
This verse in Isaiah is a prophecy referring to our LORD, Jesus Christ. Wait!! What?? He was common and plain. He was not “handsome” like others who were mentioned in the Bible. There was nothing noteworthy about Jesus’ appearance that made people stop and pay attention.
He was also the purest, most loving, perfect man that ever walked the face of this earth. His heart was for others, His love was unconditional, and He truly gave all, even unto death. Jesus held nothing back.
“Sometimes the people who needed the most help didn’t look like they needed any help at all.” – Sarah Loudin Thomas. The Sound of Rain
I read that quote in a book the other day, and I’ve thought about it.
Am I stooping to look underneath or just glancing at the surface? Who am I not seeing that might be dying inside? Who am I overlooking because they are so put-together? When I look around, do I just see the exterior qualities, like those listed above? Or do I dig deeper and see what’s below the surface? Do I see that person’s heart??
I still think the picture I shared is a beautiful picture, in and of itself. But because I am the owner and operator of the laser, I see what others might not notice at first glance. I know the inner workings and what goes on behind the scenes.
I recognize the total mess underneath from pieces of the card being cut out and dropped. I know that the beautiful “rays” made by the laser light are actually nails that hold the material up, and nails can be brutal. I’ve reached in without thinking more than once without thinking and injured my fingertips.
When I look around, do I only see the picture on the surface, or do I zoom and try to get a better look? Do I investigate to check for hurts behind the smiles? Do I stop to examine more closely the hearts of those I love and see what’s underneath their exterior? Do I see other people the way God does? Am I willing to walk with those whose hearts have been wounded, just as You did?
Or do I discriminate, label, and brand them, whether intentional or unintentional??
I’ve shared the Max Lucado video before and will post a YouTube link at the end. In this story, Wimmicks hand out stickers to each other, depending on how they see you, stars for good, gray circles for eh. We read this book to our kiddos many times. It is a wonderful story and reminds us that we are all special, and all made in God’s image. But today God held a mirror to my heart and asked me to see it through the eyes of the village Wimmicks who believed it was their duty to dole out stickers and label others.
LORD, today was SO hard to write. Hard to hear and hard to type. Help me learn this lesson this time, so I don’t have to repeat it. Give me Your eyes to look beyond the surface and physical exterior and see how people are feeling in the parts that are not visible to our human eyes, LORD. Allow me to stop long enough to see their heart and love them the way You intended for us to in the first place. Show me their beauty, inside and out. Check my Spirit when I yank out a page of stickers to start labeling those You love. Please also give me the grace and confidence to be EXACTLY who You created me to be, warts and all. Help me not care when others brand me with stars or circles. Let my line of vision be vertical, LORD. Amen
**But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
YOU ARE SPECIAL
ON THE PORCH 