Wobbling back and forth, oozy wounds roughly covered with torn rags.. Sores, no ability to feel pain. I cannot bathe anywhere because the lesions fall into the water contaminating anything and everything. The area around me wreaks as my body is slowly decaying.
What is worse? The condemnation of my body, or the condemnation of my mind and soul? My body will never allow a gentle touch or a kind word. What was my sin? I did not ask for this? Why am I receiving such harsh treatment?
A soft voice flows past which I can barely understand. One ear is partially gone. Is the voice talking to me? Voices coming in my direction have been harsh and cruel. Each word is usually followed by a series of stones and sticks. Now my mind cannot comprehend a voice where the decibels are not barbarous and pitiless.
Jesus did not stop with the outer layer. He looked at the inner beauty His Father created. With the Lens His Father had given Him, Jesus knew the freedom I am still called to experience. I needed not only the deep cleansing from the outer decay. I would need an even deeper cleansing of an inner decay toward all those who hurt me and refused to help me.
Jesus takes my hand. My first reaction is to shrink back. His holiness shakes my sins to shout louder than my leprosy.
. “Why would this Man touch me?”
Jesus eyes come to mine. Peace settles into my soul. Peace washes over my body.. Healing sweeps over me. I feel the strange sensation of a smile come to my lips. I hear the sound of pleasant child hood laughter and a bird’s song.
(yahoo.com Jesus Heals a Leper free image)
I receive the inner and outer healing to live the creative story God intended for me.
This teeny obscure flower is not a big eye catcher in the restaurant herb garden . Compared to the beautiful orange flowers edging the garden for decorations, the yellow one probably doesn’t get second glance.
It takes a special lens to bring out the beauty inside the yellow flower. The size did not attract me and I needed to take extra work to get deep inside. It not only took recognizing the lack of my camera but I had to recognize my need for the correct lens. I had a lack. I had a need.
The same is true in life.
There are situations in life where the lens I use is not adequate. To see the inner beauty of God’s creation, no matter what it is, I have to recognize my lack. I have to recognize my need.
Some inner beauties we all may need a new lens from time to time:
- family members
- someone who votes differently than you
- an art work when it is passed by
- a book proposal getting rejected for the third (or fourth or fifth) time.
- Please do not end the list here. Ask God, what inner beauty around you is being missed, has a lack, has a need?
Jesus saw the beauty of the leper through the lens of His Father’s Heart. We miss the beauty of God’s Heart when we are unwilling to use His Lens to look at this world.
The proper lens makes a world of difference.
Be
Free
To
Worship
As
You
Were
Created!
Forgiveness through God’s Heart and taking His hand will allow us to be free to worship as we were created. You are welcome to comment and share. We are on this journey together.
Beautifully written, Sandi. Thank you for sharing such deep wisdom with us.