Those, “Oh-so-attractive" coverings that give an appealing front, make us acceptable, palatable, and
pleasing to others. No, I’m not talking
about the porcelain dental coverings (though they are symbolic of this). I’m talking about the masks
that we wear to disguise and hide things underneath in us, things that if seen
would be disturbing, off-putting or disgusting to others. All of us have a veneer. Oh, you didn’t know?! Let me gently break it to you. Indeed we all do, whether we’re aware of it
or not! It’s typically easy for most
people to keep theirs in place when things are going well and life does not
present too many challenges or upsets.
But, give people too many or too daunting a trial through difficult
persons, situations and circumstances and BAM!!
The veneer will slip out of place or fall right off and major glimpses
of what’s underneath will definitely be seen!
The interesting thing, typically when that happens, I for one, used to
blame the ugly in me on the situation or person. "It’s their fault – if they just didn’t… I
wouldn’t act this way!" Ha-ha! Hmmm…I try very much not to do that
anymore. Don’t get me wrong – I can
still react and I still wish people would not make bad decisions or do things
that cause me or others pain – but, I no longer blame them for my choice of response. I’ve been learning something completely
NEW! Hey, there is nothing we’d rather
do than avoid seeing the horrible things we are capable of doing and thinking. But truly, I have now come to see the amazing positive
opportunity in these situations (TREASURE FINDING!). God gives us a way to be aware of habits we
still have that no longer belong to us – things that belong to Jesus, who died
and took them to the cross with Him. AND, when we look to Him for the insteads
for those things – He is more than gracious and kind in showing us and victoriously supporting our ability to live into those new things! WOW! Those in Christ now have a NEW nature to live
into and The Holy Spirit is unrelenting in teaching us how we can grow in
practicing this new life! The revelation of ugly things is no longer a
SHAMEFUL thing. In Christ, it can now actually
be exciting! Exciting because God is always committed to
the “instead” that He’s given us in CHRIST in exchange for that ugly habit once alive, but
now dead.
I am learning I can be real and authentic in my
journey. I like that and I love being
with people who can also be real and are not afraid to be imperfect in their
journey to treasure find the “insteads” that Jesus has given! I am so thankful for a community of believers
who are trained in seeing things this way.
They make the journey a joy and bring light to dark dark areas! The really cool thing – the more we practice
the real NEW life we have in Jesus, the less we are stirred by what previously
would have been impossible circumstances or people. We grow genuinely to produce love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control
in the very places we once produced the opposite!
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