Peeled Bananas

Oh the joys of doing the weekly shop. My wife and I go together. With a trolley each, we start at opposite ends of the supermarket and compare notes when we meet in the middle. While deliberating over my purchases I often notice a lone husband on his cell phone to his wife - presumably , “Darling, which sort of cornflakes did you say?” while I smugly work through my list.

I’ve long realised that a degree of detective work is needed in the supermarkets. Often, at first sight, the contents of the packages and cans may not always live up to the expectations of the outside labels. For example “Pure natural blossom honey?” What does that mean? ‘Honey’ yes, but doesn’t all honey come from blossom and is there such a thing as ‘unnatural’ honey? That leaves ‘pure’, which I take it to be a euphemism for ‘honey blended from various sources and heat treated.’ What is ‘farm fresh corn-fed chicken’ supposed to mean? Are they reared in batteries, deep litter, free range and are they organically reared? So what you see isn’t always what you expect.

All very mundane. But are we real and open to people and God , WYSIWYG like a peeled banana? Do they see us as we really are?

This was brought home to me the other day, when during a good-humoured exchange with a friend, he said “You are a top bloke, but when I first knew you years ago, you were a bit stuck up!” He had a point. I used to be very closed and not in touch with my feelings that much. I’ve changed since, a process that is ongoing.

I remember in my second year as a shy boy in high school, a teacher wrote in my annual report, “I wish he would come out of his shell.” Sounds a bit like a tortoise or a snail! I did emerge as I grew up, but there were certain sides of me that were unconsciously kept well hidden , perhaps because of shame or false guilt. By adulthood I already had coping mechanism in place to deal with this deficiency.

The problem is, being closed separates. It can be a barrier to open communication and conversation stays mainly from the head and not the heart. Of course, if we are closed to people we will also be hiding those areas from God. The solution is to invite Jesus into those hidden hurting areas of our life and find freedom to be ourselves, which as I discovered is an ongoing process.

“- by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:20 New International Version

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Restoration and Comfort

We live on the coast and love to spend time on the beach. No two days are the same as the seasons, weather and tides change. On some days the water is calm, still and clear, just inviting us in. Like on summer days, when it's warmer, whole families paddle and cavort in the crystal clear shallows. On the other hand, like this week, it's icy cold and restless, with angry waves crashing onto the shingle, leaving behind piles of debris and rotting seaweed. I have learned that on such days, for my own safety, I have to keep my distance.

There can be debris - unhelpful or ungodly attitudes and habits for example - in our lives, which, unattended to can build up and block the flow of God's love within us. We usually know it's there, but may pretend it's not or try to cover it over with activity or other diversions. The problem then, it can fester and spread, causing us to lose our peace and we become restless.

When we humble ourselves, take courage and face these things with Jesus, we find such forgiveness and cleansing that releases freedom and blessing. God's peace returns and we become calm and still inside. Others may even want to draw close and enjoy being with us.

"I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. -- I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him -- But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud." Isaiah 57:15-20 New International Version

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