FOOL’S GOLD
image courtesy of photobucket.com
The majestic skyline blazed with amber rays piercing the weaker retreating clouds as the body of water sat between us, holding the dangerous sky fire at bay. At least that’s what it looked like. It appeared to be the perfect piece of water flying over it at over 30,000 feet.
Most people probably thought or think the same thing I did. Out in the middle of the desert, a massive lake with few inhabitants. It could have been this continent over a hundred years ago. The peaceful water, the rugged mountains that stood guard between the water and sky that only God could create, resembled a battle in the other dimension. Maybe it was… but not for that God forsaken piece of water below us… That was fool’s gold.
I’d been fooled by it before, so while I enjoyed the spectacular view, I knew the truth behind at least part of it; The Salton Sea… It’s in the middle of the dry southwest desert and it’s not fresh water. Like the name implies, it’s salt water. It sits like the devil’s triangle between Blythe, Palm Springs, and El Centro, California.
I remember being excited to go there as a kid, but the excitement quickly faded, beginning with smelling it even before we got there. The adults called it sulfur, we described it by swearing someone had gone to the bathroom in their pants… The visions of playing on the sandy beaches also faded abruptly when we discovered a white, salty crust covered shoreline.
I think we tried to fish, but the memory escaped me for sure. I just recall the reality of life; things aren’t always what they appear. That memory caught up with me in the clouds riding a commercial jet over the Salton Sea about halfway through my trip.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” I asked the guy next to me. He leaned over to get a better view, “Sure is!” he agreed. I’ve seen many things in my life that aren’t always what they seem, that was just one of the first ones. I’ve been fooled by my fair share of things in life; from cars and trucks to animals and people. How they look doesn’t give a real indication as to how they work.
The grim reality of getting duped or taken advantage of leaves a life long memory. Of all the ways we’ve been fooled in our lives by judging a book based on its cover, the most prevalent one is our fellow man. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t been fooled by the appearance and even actions of another person in their life.
It’s the reality of life in our fallen world and after one too many times of being duped we become aware, wise, and often cynical. It seems evident when we pass beyond wisdom into the realm of cynicism, we begin to become hardened, crusted, like the shoreline around the Salton Sea.
Regardless of what I know of the shortcomings of the scene below, I can still see the beauty of it… So it should be with our fellow man; not perfect, but still made in the image of our Creator.
How can the sight be anything less than miraculous?
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 4:57 am
I’m guilty of being cynical instead of wise. Of letting my heart grow bitter instead of looking at the world through the eyes of God.
I remember one day working in the medical field and the topic of eugenics was brought up. As a Christian I know it’s wrong. As a worker in the medical field who saw the worst of society, it was easy to nod my head “yes” when people began voicing reasons why some people shouldn’t procreate.
I just stood there, for a moment torn within myself. Then a doctor righted my world by voicing my Christian beliefs. No life is of more value than another and when we begin play God it isn’t long before we turn into a Nazi society. Man should not play God, it’s not our job to control the world, but to love it as Christ did.
We are to be imitators of Christ, not man!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 6:45 am
Wow. Well said TC. Our job is to love the world… even when it’s no easy task, but isn’t that exactly what Christ said? How easy is it to love the lovable? Great point. Thanks.
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 10:19 am
Well, it does LOOK beautiful! 🙂 At the hotel we stayed at last week, the walk to the beach took us by the garbage chute every day. Quite a stinky endeavor to get to the real “gold.” But always worth it.
Thinking of all my imperfections, but thankful to still be made in His image. Such grace. Thanks, Floyd!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:08 pm
Thank you Lisa. Looks can be deceiving… but probably not by a garbage chute… It is all about His grace! Nice call.
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
Seeing His creation, specially people, like He does will change us…then we can see the beauty in all of it. Good thoughts my brother…thank you!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
Thanks Jay. Yeah, I’m with you. Having a perspective from God changes everything. Now if I could just remember that a little more often!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 2:38 pm
Only the Holy Spirit in us can truly see the good in any one. Well put Brother Floyd!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
Ah Haa! No wonder I don’t look so good to anyone! Just kidding… I hope… Seeing with the eyes directed by God changes everything… even in the darkness, things have a way of looking better. Thanks Diane!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
This was a profound statement for me here Floyd.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” I asked the guy next to me. He leaned over to get a better view, “Sure is!” he agreed. I’ve seen many things in my life that aren’t always what they seem.
When you are filled with God’s word, you see things differently i know. It takes me back to Adam and Eve. There eyes were destroyed once the fruit was eaten. Imagine how wonderful it was to walk in the garden seeing its beauty? We don’t need to take lightly what God has blessed us with.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 9:16 am
Thanks Lincoln. Well said. We do tend to take lightly the blessings of God, we tend to let our senses become jaded by this fallen world. God has a way of opening our eyes and minds back up.
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 7:35 pm
Yes, things aren’t always as they seem. The smell notified you that something was out of sorts. Not a good place to play and certainly no fishing today. Thank for sharing your post at “Tell Me a Story.”
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 9:17 am
Thanks Hazel. Yeah, that smell was awful! Thanks for your website to share on!
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 8:45 pm
God;y people see things differently then worldly people. Both spiritually and naturally. Beautiful post Floyd.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 9:18 am
Thanks Dan. How true. We do see the world through different lenses. It’s funny how we can see the same objects and places and yet have such a profound difference of perspective. Excellent thoughts.
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 8:46 pm
It’s a good reminder, Floyd, to pray that God helps us see things as God does…especially people.
Especially ourselves!
Blessings,
Voni
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 9:19 am
Amen Voni! When we look through the eyes that are in our Father’s will, we get to see with His perspective. How cool is that? Good call, Voni. Thanks.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 12:51 pm
I actually talked about this on Sunday. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and live generously toward everyone (that’s how the Message puts it). Many are caught up with the concern that this is just a good way to get taken advantage of. The reality is, that’s absolutely right. God knows firsthand what it means to give and give and be taken advantage of over and over. Still, His nature is love and provision and compassion–to the sinner and the saint. How can we not live the same generosity? I’m not perfect by any means, but it’s given me something to ponder when I want to withhold out of fairness! Thanks Floyd.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 6:38 pm
Thanks Jason. I appreciate your insight and honesty. We all need to think about these type of actions… Writing about it helps me a ton… It slows me down, which is a good thing!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 2:09 pm
I know I get off onto tangents, but certain things you said evoked another response in me.
We used to refer to that smell ( from geysers) as “Rotten eggs”. P. U….that sulphur is SO nasty smelling! It reminds me of the stinky behavior by which some of God’s kids allow themselves to be exercised. They look good, but they stink!
Then, you got me to thinking about really being fooled. Those who have an uniformed and improper view of this world exalt the creation more than the Creator. Even some Christians stay ignorant of the empty lure of this world.
Satan blinds the minds of those who are in unbelief. I think we Christians can be born again, but be in area of unbelief, so may find ourselves “blinded.”
Sometime I wonder what is worse….the guy who doesn’t know GOD yet and acts poorly, or the Child of God who knows better but acts like he doesn’t. I give everyone a fair chance, but sometimes I feel like the unsaved can be easier to reason with. Thanks for stirring up my kettle of thought!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 6:42 pm
Thanks for stirring up my kettle of thought as well, Nancy! I agree with you whole heartedly. You can almost overlook someone who is blinded, but the ones that have the access to the mysteries of the cosmos due to the enlightenment of God is hard to swallow… especially when they justify their actions… One of my weaknesses I suppose… Great thoughts, Nancy.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 8:00 pm
Good thinking and very good sharing. So often part of our lives in one way or another. We’re so convinced that something is perfectly truthful … and the face-to-face [nose-to-nose] portion proves it otherwise… doesn’t look and “smell” just the way we thought it did. My opinion re: life, as I shared with you before, is being on alert at all times and not being drawn into a “fake” and dangerous portion of the world.
Really appreciate your insight.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:05 pm
Thanks Joanne. I appreciate your insight as well. Interesting how God brings others to shed even more of His light on a subject… You are a bright one my friend! Well said.