"What I believe is not what I say I believe. What I believe is what I do."
Donald Miller in Blue Like Jazz.
Ouch. If the above statement is truth then I believe:
- my needs often come above the needs of others.
- my time is more important than other people’s time.
- God didn’t make me beautiful enough on the outside.
- someone else will take care of the violence in Darfur.
- it is enough to feel hurt for people. Doing something to actually help is optional.
- my life is my own.
- I don’t need others.
- food can make you feel better.
- I can do a better job planning my own life than God.
- God does not keep his promises.
Tonight there is a disappointing reflection staring back at me in the mirror. I’m seeing some wrinkles and age spots I’ve not seen before under the light of this quote. I could stand here for a long time picking apart my reflection, cursing every blemish present but as I stare with a saddened and shamed heart, the transparent reflection of Christ begins to appear over my own face. His beautiful eyes, staring back at me, are deep oceans of compassion and grace. I cannot look away. What is it that I see in the depths of His eyes? Understanding? Forgiveness? Love? Belief in me?
I am so fixated on His beautiful face that I lose sight of my blemishes and wrinkles for a moment. They are still there, of course, but they all but vanish from my sight. I fix my gaze on Him and I’m not distracted by my humanness and failures.
Don’t look down, Melissa. Just look into His eyes and go forward.
All opinions, whether implied or expressed, are the individual opinions of the contributors to this site and do not necessarily represent the views of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Missouri.
