IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING OUT FILE DRAWERS, I came across photos from long ago. I looked pretty good back then! Add a few decades; what do I look like now? I can still smile and wiggle my hips, but what do I look like at my WORST moments?
An atheist artist offered to paint a portrait of Eugene Peterson, but when he finished, the picture looked horrible. He explained that he was drawing the hypocrisy and evil that lurked within all Christians.
Rachel in one of her “moods”
That set me back! We can fake it nicely for random photo shots, regardless of mood, but supposing our mood—not our “say-cheese” smile or outfit—was what really came through?
People on the brink of death don’t look pretty, and I, of course, am thinking hard about that. But how do I want to look between now and then?
I love to laugh. I love an emotional binge. I recently saw part of an old Jane Eyre movie and decided I needed to re-read the novel for the umpteenth time and let it jerk my heart around. I also love to cry over music that jerks my soul around.
How would Eugene’s artist paint me? Yes, he’d see plenty of inner grumbling and annoyance, a fair bit of anger, and a smattering of discouragement. And, of course, there’s the grim, everyday slog-along that life requires. But I hope a thick layer of love would rise to the surface. We all struggle with inner stuff, but through the grace of God, that will all be erased, and we will wear our REAL face—forever and ever.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? What would you like it to show you? I’d love to hear your stories, either in a comment below or egus@me.com
Ellie, thanks for continuing the daily discourse, the questions of life. We send your our love.
I would love people to see me as being a nice person and a person who loves God. Ellie, I only know you by what you write and I see that you have a Beautiful Heart and I see you as a Very courageous lady who also Loves God. You my friend are a Beautiful person Inside and Out! I Love reading your newsletters and your posts. You are an inspiration to me. Have a Great weekend my friend. All my love. God Bless you.
It is wonderful for a Christian to know that the righteousness of Christ covers all our many blemishes! Love, Lowell
There is an old hymn that goes… “O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and smiling, you have called me by name.”
I took that to mean God already knew everything about me, and he wanted me anyway.
Our merciful God!
I’m not perfect but I sure love serving the Lord!
… And I think the rest is what repenting is all about!! I love you Ellie! Sue
Hi Ellie
Just checking in to see how it’s going for you. A very thought provoking block. Thanks for your transparency. The outside is not always pretty, The mirror does tell us more then we sometimes wish. And yes, you were a lovely bride. But we have both earned all the wear and tear on our bodies haven’t we? And Jesus has us covered—new bodies all around. Blessings my friend.
~W
What you’ve written, Ellie is a thought provoking piece. It gave me a moment to reflect on my life now and beyond this life.
You captured Paul’s sentiments, That, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (II Cor.4:16-18).
We need to be good inside and outside. Ellie, your heart is good outside and inside. We love you so much Ellie.
Thank you for including me with blog. Always appreciate your thoughts.
When we see Jesus face to face he will tell us our ‘new name’. He’s always seen us as we are and I think maybe that new name will be what he’s called us in love all along. Perhaps it tells of the story he has been writing in our lives – the story that is about him. We are the characters in his story and he reveals perhaps some of his purposes in our lives in that new name. Perhaps ……
Got your blog link! Sorry to see all that I’ve been missing!