Sea creatures are fascinating. The little octopus held me captive while visiting an aquarium and I stared at it for several minutes. At the same time I shook off the willies that sent chill bumps up the skin of my back. How can something so alluring be so repelling at the same time?
Touching a starfish and a couple sea urchins, I was surprised that they were very stiff. I thought they would have some give, maybe like play dough or a pin cushion. Their movements in the water were so graceful it looked as if they would be flexible to the touch. The way they look and move in their habitat gives a different impression of how they feel to the touch.
Uh oh – am I like the starfish and sea urchin? Having the appearance of being approachable, do I give an invitation but have a tough surface when people get close enough? I’m afraid sometimes I do. Many of us do.
There is a protective coating around our hearts, an inner layer to keep a distance. Of course, it’s important to know who to trust. However, I find myself not even engaging in the preliminaries of getting to know someone simply because it takes so much effort.
What’s my excuse? I can wear the badge of the introverted proudly. But seriously, if calling myself an introvert stops me from allowing contact with people I could befriend, is it a badge or a suit of armor? A white picket fence or a ten-foot privacy wall?
Favoritism was the topic of discussion at a Bible study on the book of James. Favoritism is picking and choosing who we will give audience to. Like a king who requires people to bow prostrate before him, face down on the palace floor until he chooses to lift their face. Or not. A person could lay there all day and night, get walked on, and passed by without being acknowledged by the king. They never get the opportunity to bring their issue to the attention of their king because he doesn’t choose to see them.
What makes one person worthy and another not?
Do I do this? Sometimes.
I am ashamed.
So, I approach the throne of my King Jesus and lay prostrate before Him ready to beg forgiveness. But, this King of mine does not leave me lying on the floor. This King does not step over and ignore me. This King, my example, lifts my face so I can look into His eyes of forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
He lifts my head, picks me up, sets my feet on solid ground and asks me to do the same. Show love. Be merciful. Be one who will lift the face of the person He puts before me so they can see Him in me.
But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3 NASB
Linking to….
Treasures Hidden 
Again you hit the target. Living here in Mexico and being language challenged I use that as an excuse nototo be Livingstone as I know my Lord is. Thanks for another open my eyes momentous your illustrations. .
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I can understand how cultural differences could be an extra challenge and/or excuse. Of course, our Lord blew that excuse out of the water when He set the example of talking to Samaritans and Gentiles, didn’t He?!!
It’s fear of those we consider to be different than ourselves that holds us back at times. But, I guess if someone is different than me, I am also different to them. Therefore, maybe we are not as “different” from each other as we thought!
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Jesus said, “I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” John 15:15 The Message
Great illustration!
Reminded me of visiting the tide pools of the coast of northern California. Those starfish are stiff.
Maybe the more time we spend with Jesus (thank You Holy Spirit) the more we begin to understand His love, the less stiff we are : )
As Josh Groban sings:
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.
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Yeah, definitely! A better understanding of His love makes us less “stiff.”
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I really enjoyed reading what you wrote. There are so many lonely, hurting people in this world who are looking for someone who will take the time to meet them, and spend some quality time getting to know one another.
I think the “privacy walls” you mentioned are a personal mechanism to resist being rejected.
I have my own personal theory about women who spend so much time watching their grandkids. I know they love them, and want to help their grown children who work outside of the home, but could there also be a “hidden” reason for doing this? If they didn’t do this, they wouldn’t have much of a “life”. After the household chores are accomplished, there is nothing to do…life might become boring and bland, so they spend their time with their grandkids when they could spend it with their husbands, friends, or becoming acquainted with those “lonely” women who need a friend.
I’ll never forget something my father told me when he was alive. He said, “We raised you kids, and we are not going to raise your kids. They are your kids, and your responsibility, not ours. It’s time for your mom and I to relax, and enjoy our lives together now.” *(Sorry I got off your topic a little, but I wanted to share this.)
P.S. Since I am not working and have no grandkids, but a lot of free time, I love to go antiquing and tea rooms…anyone interested? *(hint, hint)
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Yes, we do protect ourselves from possible rejection and sometimes miss opportunities for friendship. Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts.
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