SNAPPED BACK TO REALITY
It didn’t seem like it, but we all had something in common. As I stood waiting for my breakfast burrito, sipping a large hot coffee out of the styrofoam cup, the old rusted out speakers crackled, “What A Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong into the damp early morning air. It seemed fitting, reminded me of days gone by, a simpler life, as I watched the other people. None of us were friends, “Shakin’ hands,” – “Really sayin,’ I love you,” we were strangers with a common goal, and I do mean strangers.
I was out of town, which helps change my thought process and perspective. One guy who had to be close to my age had his hair dyed bright blue… Standing in front of the semi-permanent restaurant on wheels, a tired grandma stopped to borrow a napkin to clean her granddaughter’s nose and tie her shoe. I sensed, by the way she dealt with the little girl, she was also the mom, but there was no doubt about the love between them.
An Asian woman who also looked to be about my age paced slowly and deliberately by, with her son who looked to be about 18 or 19, about his mom’s size. Their slow and deliberate pace was for his benefit; he appeared to be mentally and physically handicapped and used his mom’s steady forearm to steady himself.
Out next to the shrub covered chain link fence was a group of Hispanics, illegals, undocumented workers… or at least trying to be. All kinds of different people from different walks of life, different politics, different beliefs, different cultures, and different religions… but all of us there for one reason; improvement… in our Wonderful World…
People working on real estate to improve their lives, the professional and the non-professionals alike. Some to make their lives easier, prettier, more orderly, or fixing things that were broken. All of us were straining to make things better for our senses in hopes that it would do something similar to our spirit… Too bad the feeling isn’t permanent.
How often in life have we tried to improve the outside of our lives while ignoring the inside? That’s kind of like building a structure without first securing a solid foundation… very temporary. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and these other things will be appointed unto you.”
We all looked different, but we weren’t. The realization was staring me in the face and I was looking back, all of us were in need of improvement, repair, remodeling, or rebuilding.
“Sir!” I heard as I snapped back to reality.
“Yes?” I turned back toward him in the mobile diner.
“I added and extra egg since you didn’t want any potatoes!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome! -Here you go! – Have a great day!”
“Thanks,” I pondered aloud, “You too.”
If only the world sought to fix the inside as much as the outside… This place might look more like,
A Wonderful World…
bill (cycleguy)
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 3:49 am
I think we are all guilty…Christ-followers included…of spending too much time fixing the outside and forgetting the inside.
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 7:02 am
Exactly Bill! I was in line like everyone else with the same mindset until I opened my spiritual eyes.
Jay Cookingham
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 9:05 am
The common need for an uncommon redeemer unites us all bro’. The fact that even those of us who have bend our knee to Jesus still need our insides fixed gets ignored all to often. Thanks for the reminder Floyd!
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 9:12 am
Thanks Jay, well said, “The common need for an uncommon redeemer unites us all.” We are all in the same boat and One life preserver fits all…
Lincoln Parks
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 9:14 am
My wife and I were just discussing this the other day how we are all different, yet on the inside we are all looking for similar things. This is such a great example of building community. Yesterday our small group class was reading Act 2 and how it talks about Peter’s sermon and how over 3000 people were radically changed. Imagine if we had a community of people that radically changed, and gave their life fully to him instead of worrying how people look from the outside? What a great community it would be.
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 9:31 am
Amen to that Lincoln. It would be a radically different world. The flesh is weak and we seek so much to fulfill the senses, we often miss the True meaning of this life… the lost for sure. Thanks, seems we’re on the same wave length today!
Lincoln Parks
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 9:34 am
Absolutely! I see that..
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 5:11 pm
I guess our Father has opened our eyes to the same things!
Jason Stasyszen
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 10:14 am
Amazing how we can be incredibly different yet distinctly the same. The reality is that it’s easier to change the outside and hope no one notices the inside or we may even delude ourselves into thinking that changing the outside will change the inside, but it never works and falls flat. Then the search continues. I praise God that the transformation He’s done in my life (and continues to do) is not based on my merit or deserving, but on His love and grace. He’s making a better world and He starts with you and me. How incredible is that? Thanks so much, Floyd.
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
Great point Jason. He is in the process of making the lives in our world wonderful and it’s a blessing to be part of it. Sometimes the task looks daunting… Thanks for your heart and encouragement.
Dan Black
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 11:01 am
Jesus taught about the importance of “cleaning the inside of your cup and then the outside will become clean as well”(My version). It’s all about living a inside-out life. Great post Floyd.
Floyd
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 5:14 pm
Well said, Dan! “An inside out life.” I gotta remember that. I like it! The best things are the things summed up in the easiest ways, well done my friend. Thanks.
Hazel Moon
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
All people have some good in them, even those who appear rough around the edges. We sit at the table with them as we enjoy our meal.
Thanks for sharing this post at “Tell me a Story.” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:27 am
Thanks Hazel. We truly do share a table with them in our lives. We’re not so different, only the choice of believing in the One who made and controls the cosmos. Thanks for sharing my story!
Mike
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 6:53 pm
It seems like I’m a constant work in progress. My outside is definitely showing the wear and tear of the years, but my inside feels better and better as I continue to surrender to Christ. I like the focus of your posts, they’re lessons from life.
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:28 am
Thanks Mike. I’m with you completely on the outside and the inside. As we gain experience with time spent with our Father we do begin to feel a whole lot better on the inside.
Jennifer@GDWJ
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 8:04 pm
Well done, Floyd. Thank you for the reminder of the inner cleansing that we all need. So.very.grateful for His abundant grace.
Thank you, friend, for shining your Light into the world!
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:31 am
Thanks Jennifer. Opening our eyes to the world around us is a blessing and can be a bit sobering. My heart melts for the stubborn lost… They need what we need, I wish I could do more to help them see Him and find Him…
Ngina Otiende
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 8:28 pm
I am guilty of this Floyd – sometimes I find myself working to bring order to my outside, instead of starting inward.
Am glad God doesn’t dis-won His kids :). He keeps working on me and i can testify am not where i used to be in this journey.
Great life lesson.
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:32 am
Thanks Ngina. I’m on the path with you my friend… but I can testify to your words… We’re not where we used to be on this journey. Thank God above.
Joanne Norton
Monday, August 6, 2012 @ 8:29 pm
So true!! I truly need to make certain that the inside of my “life” is stronger than what I look like on the outside. When the Lord taps me on the shoulder, whispers in my ear… I need to focus on Him and obey and grow and mature.
You are a good visually-oriented and descriptive watcher/writer.
Thanks.
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:40 am
Thanks Joanne, we all need to be ready for His whisper in our ear… Our Father tapping us on the shoulder and whispering in our ear… I’d say that is wonderfully visual orientation. Well said.
Diane
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 3:36 am
I’ve spent my whole adult life working on the inside. I get to a point that I say, “There can’t be anything left to work on.” Wrong. Our Father prunes away, causing us to bear more succulent fruit than before. You are so right, Floyd, What A Wonderful World it would be!
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 9:41 am
The pruning is painful sometimes isn’t it? Thanks for the words of wisdom and the fruit you share of your life with us. That makes it a wonderful world Diane!
Lisa notes
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 1:38 pm
I wish I could see hearts like Jesus does. He sees like you’re talking about, eager to fix our insides. Praying for his vision and to do my part in making this a Wonderful World. Thanks, Floyd, for always doing your part.
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 6:04 pm
Thanks Lisa. I don’t know that I did much that day except think about the world, especially the lost. Oh if we could see our heart the way God does it would be so much easier…
Audra Krell
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 2:28 pm
Yes, we spend so much time maintaining the masks we present to other people. When they finally crack we are left with a nothingness that can be so dark. I too, ache for people who need Jesus so badly but are too stubborn to quit trying to fix the mask.
Floyd
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 6:06 pm
Good call Audra, that’s exactly what they are masks to hide our hearts from the world. My heart aches for them too. Thanks for your heart and perspective.
That sounds like something I should twitter… You know, because I’m technologically advanced… and so forth…
Audra Krell
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 8:11 pm
Let’s be honest D, you’ll probably not have another thought that isn’t twitter worthy. I don’t envy you my friend, it’s tough to be so with it!