Boxed Hearts

GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG).

One day I was in the grocery store and I noticed a biker guy with a do-rag on his head. He wore a blue jean jacket with the sleeves cut off at the shoulders exposing tattooed arms from his little finger to his rotator cuff. He was going through a big box of DVDs. I passed by and ask him how he was doing to which he responded, “Fine. Yourself?

As I proceeded to the potato chip aisle, I thought to myself: “I don’t have anything in common with that guy.”

Then the Lord whispered in my ear: “If you couldn’t see what he looked like, you would discover that you have more in common with him than you think.”

I was convicted and shocked. The Lord’s words made me realize how judgmental I am and most of it stems from what I see with my physical eyes. If people dress differently, or have tattoos, or come from another part of the country, or from a different religious background, I have a tendency to stereotype them and assume they are just like I perceive them to be based on my background. My perceptions are always correct, you know. I’m sure yours are as well.

The Lord would not let up on me. His rebuke kept pounding in my ears. When I got to the parking lot, the car next to mine had a bumper sticker that said: IF WE WERE ALL BLIND, WE WOULD NOT KNOW WHO TO HATE.  BAM! Right between the eyes!

This event took place many years ago. I am so thankful Papa took time to expand my horizons. Now whenever I SEE someone different from me, I immediately remind myself to look for the true person inside rather than the “box” they come in

In our culture, it often seems that the “box” is the most important thing about us. At the Academy Awards, they sure do put a lot of money and effort into making the “box” look really good. And then they open their mouth and ruin it all. The Bible says that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

But it seems that culture may be catching on. There is a new TV show now called, THE VOICE. The judges cannot SEE the contestants. They can only HEAR them sing. How cool is that? If a contest is held to determine who has the best singing voice, then who cares what the “box” looks like. Right

Could it be that the world is changing? NAW!!!!!

Could we change the world if we stopped judging “boxes” and started listening to hearts?

Absolutely

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Blessings, Kenny.