Friday, September 23, 2011

Beyond the surface

There is so much beyond the surface of a person.


Beyond the makeup.
Behind the sarcasm.
Underneath the latest trends.


A few days ago in my Freshman Seminar, something happened.
All 20 or so of us shared our faith testimony and God moved.


Sitting there listening to these stories, I was in awe.
I somehow always manage to forget that every single person has a story worth telling.
A story of the hurdles and jumps to land in a specific spot in time.


Behind the smiles and the jokes, there is a person.  Hurting and aching for love.  From another, from God, from parents who stepped out of the picture, from a boy or girl you adore...the list goes on and on.


I have found when you look at someone, I mean really look, you will begin to see the cracks, the things breaking someone down.  Everybody has something.


In my life, self-esteem has been a hurdle I have yet to completely cross.  I feel some people don't really notice this about me because I tend to hide it pretty well...always playing it off like no big deal.  I find myself taking two steps forward on a good day and 4 backward on another.  Something that hurts me so deeply is when someone ignores or pretends not to see me...I don't know if that has happened to you but for me, it happens A LOT. And I know it isn't a big deal but sometimes, it really affects me and chips away at my image of myself.  I think I have a deep fear inside of myself that people see me and have no interest in getting to know me for who I am...kind of stupid but hey, I'm being honest here.


I feel as though certain people keep their distance from only me yet not with everyone else and that really hurts.


So next time you see somebody, don't forget to open your eyes and see, instead of merely looking.  You can skim the surface of every person you meet in this life, or you could choose to go deeper.  You can open the eyes of your heart to something beautiful that God desires to share if you choose to take that next step.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9


Beyond all of our cracks and shortcomings, God is glorified.  
                       He shines out of our cracks, even brighter than the sun.


God, you are perfect.  You are so far beyond anything beautiful on this entire Earth, and yet you choose us to love.  You have woven together the heart that beats, the eyes that see, and the story of our lives continues though the storms may come.  We each have burdens to bear and oceans to cross, but we have each other to lean on.  Open the eyes of our hearts to recognize the deep rooted pain inside of the people you call us to love, and move us towards Your grace and way of seeing this world through Your lens.  There is nothing we could do to deserve the Love you freely bestow so we love for You.  Show us the way to live every moment with purpose and passion for those who stray towards the darkness looming around every corner, including my own wandering heart.  In Your name, amen.

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