Our hidden parts...
A friend recently invited me to a new Bible study. I went
back and forth in my mind about attending it. I had many reasons to say no. My
biggest reason was that I didn’t know anyone except my friend, and the thought
of meeting new people gave me a heavy feeling. By heavy I don’t mean anxious,
it was more of a wondering if I would fit in or have anything worthy to
contribute. For an introvert, these thoughts form familiar, personal hurdles
that I must approach with full velocity. Or not. As I chose to attend, I simply
hoped to make the jump and land safely.
My “normal” go-to is keep to myself. Until I get to know
someone, I stay hidden. And this hiding has become something to ponder lately.
Recently, I discovered that the part of me that I keep hidden really should not
remain that way. And I discovered this lesson in my garden.
I relish the blooming of the peonies in my backyard each
spring. They are one of my favorite flowers and I can’t wait for them to open
every year. I have two bushes at the far end of my yard and when I look out my
back door, I can see them and take in their lush beauty, even at a distance. It
is nature at its best and it is so very easy to fall in love with all they
offer.
The blooms radiate their essence. They are meant to do that,
aren’t they?
Before long though, the flowers unfortunately start to fade.
A few days ago, I knew the blooming window was coming to a close. I had to take
a closer look to soak up as much loveliness as I could. I walked to the back of
the yard and decided to clip a few of the blooms to take inside to enjoy. As I
did, I noticed the underside of the blossom. The side that was hidden. The side
you really can’t see from a distance. Under the petals, where they fan out from
the stem, an even more beautiful display was present. The underside of the
flower had the most vibrant shades of fuchsia and pink. It was so beautiful and
colorful. It was clear to see that this is where all the beauty begins! Right
at the stem.
This encounter made me sense how staying hidden keeps me
from shining God’s light in the world. The light God put in me and in YOU.
Vibrant gifts. I like how the Bible talks about this in the Message version:
"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
I had to stop for a moment and wonder. Am I completely connected to what God has created me to be, or am I hiding? Holding myself back from fully living out his goodness and glory? If I focus on myself, I will certainly hide. The thoughts that keep me hidden, like “what do I have to offer?” keep me stuck. But, when I live in complete confidence of Christ in me, I ultimately reflect God to those around me. I live in freedom from being approved by people. I don’t have to hide. If I live in the truth of what He has given me, then why shy away from living with the gifts he has given me?
All too
often, we hold ourselves back because we judge ourselves with the eyes of the
world. When we do that, all we see are the hurdles. When we pause and embrace
the truth of who we are and in whose image we’ve been created, we live from
that place. From the place where the beauty grows, from the “stem.” From God.
Like the flowers that abound, when we open up, we open others to God.
Live fully,
my friends. There is no reason to hide…
...be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world!...
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