BEFORE AND AFTER
Everyone loves the “before and after” pictures. Well, the ones with positive outcomes. The problem is that the road from before to after isn’t always pretty. In fact, it can be down right ugly… even if the physical outcome is pleasing to the eye.
before
Here a while back I posted a picture of a house I was building, the stairs in particular. The problem I related to in that post is that while it was gratifying work, it was so difficult and dangerous, I cussed to myself in the process.
What does our spiritual health look like before and after? I guess it varies from time to time, season to season.
We get so caught up with the before and after pictures of ourselves and or our possessions that we neglect the mental snapshot of our spiritual health.
As I get older I realize that to look like Prince Charming or like Princess Jasmine doesn’t mean much if the inside isn’t humble.
It was a day and weekend of toil. I don’t work with my hands as much as I used to… Maybe I romanticized the good old days of working hard with my hands. Thinking back, I do remember losing my cool… and often. Peculiar how it takes the same actions to bring the real life memories of the past back without the mental airbrushing.
I failed today like I did so often in life. The “after” picture of what we’re changing will be spectacular, especially compared to the “before” shot. But if it takes ugly to attain beauty… then it really isn’t beauty… at least to my Biblical way of thinking.
and after
Gaining glory in the flesh for the “before and after” things mean little if our soul would have been better off before we kicked against the goads…
Sunday, May 13, 2018 @ 9:07 pm
But kicking against always leads to an awareness that’s not a smart thing to do. It may take time, but eventually the light will come on upstairs…
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 2:53 am
WOW Floyd! From this vantage point it looks to me like you do excellent work-pain or no pain. Did you start with wood and finish with metal? And to be honest, that looks more like an industrial complex than a house. But what fine work. as for the point of your post: I’ll take the inside any day
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 8:54 am
I like your point about if the inside isn’t humble, a beautiful outside doesn’t mean much. This confirms what the Lord is saying to my spirit. So I was pretty excited to read that line! I like the before and after shots. Beautiful building on your part. For an old guy, it seems you still have the touch.
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 10:11 am
Hmm…I wonder if God will show us a before and after picture of our spiritual selves when we see him face to face. I hope the contrast will be stark! Thanks for this, Floyd.
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 2:13 pm
From glory to glory!
Amen.
Looks great, Floyd.
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
As always…. A wise man indeed. I have to let go of the past and attone for old sheds I’ve built before gaining the beauty of houses that rich.
Monday, May 14, 2018 @ 6:39 pm
Hi Floyd!
Great food for thought. Just, this morning, my youngest and I sat on the deck discussing the ugly roads that we have traveled through, in this life. Of course, his adult life has just begun, but he is such an old soul. We agreed that the ugly, twisted and thorny road had to be traveled, in order to build character and faith along the journey. Oh, how much more we appreciate the smooth and gentle curves of the paved road, once we’ve walked the thorny path! And, boy, do we learn how to walk humbly, slowly and appreciatively. Our spiritual health journey affects everything we do, say, touch and feel. Spiritual beauty leaps from our souls and cannot be contained by the flesh. This is the real beauty of our journey! This is the beauty that lives on and continues to touch lives, long after we have ceased to exist…. Yep! The humble soul has a complete and meaningful life!
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 @ 12:16 am
Oh, my word! Your work is just beautiful! Such a transformation! I love the spiritual application, too. It gives me hope that the finished product will be so much better after time spent in the Refiner’s fire. Thank you for this much-needed encouragement. Praying for you, brother.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 @ 9:50 am
I’m amazed by your handiwork, Floyd! Yes, even when we’ve been given gifts, like the one you obviously have, if we’re not humble about it, the before and after don’t show improvement in the end. Great thoughts here!
Blessings!
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 @ 4:33 pm
The plans and blue prints had to be created even before you could begin with the project. God had us all on His drawing board even before He set us here on earth to begin our journey As I mulled over these thoughts, I began to wonder if God even keeps a “before” photo of me (and you) I really believe He is only interested in the “After” photo because it is a keeper. Your photos on your post are interesting, and the one showing the finished product turned out great.
Sunday, May 20, 2018 @ 10:07 am
The “before” wasn’t ugly at all, it depends on your perspective. It was the beauty of what was to be. Compare a catipillar, fuzzy, sometimes spotted and different colors. Someone may think their ugly, I view them as on their journey to become something more. What was intended, the purpose if their life.
Through you, God has done many great things. I believe you havnt failed at all, you have gone down the paths that have been chosen for you. They have all had lessons to be learned….
Sunday, May 20, 2018 @ 3:21 pm
Excellent point, Floyd. Dressing things up on the outside while the inside is ugly is what a friend of mine would call putting lipstick on a turd.