So, sometimes our perception isn’t so precise is it? Sometimes how we view it, is just wrong on so many levels? Often we don’t see clearly all the detail of all the stuff in our way and so we make a false judgement, wrong decisions, critical remarks and as a result we act and react on false pretenses just because our vision is dimmed.
The other morning I noticed a spider in the bathtub, and you have to understand, we don’t get along well. No, spiders and me ~ well, we just don’t see eye to eye. Oh, I love the elegant patterns etched into their silken webs and for photography, I find their amazing draping, spun creations fascinating as they glisten with dewdrops in the lazy, hazy, morning sun! However, the way the spider crawls about in mid-air and free-falls to spin its elegant design is frightful for one who’s standing below in close proximity. Maybe it stems from the baggage of a fear awakened in my childhood spirit when upon waking one morning, sleepy eyes met with adrenaline, and widened and focused rather quickly to see a spider dangling from its web about two inches from my face! Did I say, I panicked? How does an eight-year-old figure this one out? Screaming was never my thing, as it was much too loud and dramatic for my quiet side. Yeah, I was on my own for this one and so I was.
I didn’t have much time to think but felt slightly frozen in fear! Moving too quickly, could prove to be a bad choice, so I gently blew him gently to the left as I crawled out gently on the right from underneath, hoping he didn’t drop further with the wind in his sails. Yeah, to this day, I don’t like them and I really dislike their spidery, eight-legged characteristics and their predictable creepy crawl way they crawl.
So, this day here we were together, him and I, and this spider found lodging in the tub just had to be reigned in! I grabbed a very thick wad of paper in order to make sure he didn’t make a getaway! Now, my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and without magnifying glasses, all fine detail is a blur and a lot of things look the same to me. I sized up the moment as best I could and with a vision quite less than 20/20 I took him out! Upon checking to make sure I had him, he moved and fell back into the tub. I panicked and dropped the whole wad of nonsense, only to recoup to find to my embarrassment, it was nothing but nonsense, as a clearer view revealed a fluffy fuzz of dog fur that floated off the wad, into the air drifting back into the tub. No damage done this time, just a wake-up call to not be so anxious about things that might not even be. But how many times do I need to be reminded?
Do you do the same? Do you find yourself worrying about things that aren’t? Feel panicked about things that aren’t concrete? Anxious about issues that aren’t set in stone? I didn’t see clearly enough to know the detail and so I had it all wrong. Ok, so here’s the thing friends, physical eyesight isn’t always accurate and sweet and beautiful soul, neither is our spiritual insight? We are called to be discerning but we have to take care to see clearly before acting or reacting. In John 7: 24, Jesus rebukes a critical crowd in the temple courts, when He says to them “Do not judge by appearances but judge with right judgement.”
Sometimes you and I and we and us, don’t we just get it all wrong and judge before we gather all the facts? We see we perceive, we size up and we assume all manner of things! Sometimes we listen to wrong words and our false perception leads us off track and nonsense possibly leads many others astray as our false belief gives way to gossip and spreads like uncontrolled flames through a dry forest! Unlike the “no big deal” of it wasn’t a spider after all, we can burn valuable bridges causing a lot of damage to ourselves and to others because of anxieties and false perceptions.
Yeah, beautiful soul, you and I and we and us, we need to take care to give the heart magnifying glasses in order to see things through the eyes of spiritual discernment opened up in the Light of Truth, before we jump headfirst into something that’s all wrong. Sometimes, we need to put our “holier than thou” caps on the hooks of challenge and seek to understand by joining the ranks of those living where the rubber meets the road so to speak. Walk in their shoes and carry their baggage! Not all things come together to make a nice, clean, tidy story of perfection but each one is writing God’s story for our lives as the divine and sovereign God heals, repairs and perfects that which concerns us. David knew His God well and reminds himself and us of His constant care in Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your love O Lord endures forever. Do not abandon the works of your hands.”
How’s our story? Not perfect eh? Rest assured God is working on you and He’s working on them! Who are we to judge then? In Proverbs 3: 13 we have a promise of blessing to the wise and to those who seek to understand.
“ Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding…How then do we get wisdom? How then do we understand?”
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 
Had to laugh about the spider. I had one surprise me in the kitchen before winter, and it was like a stand off. I spoke aloud to the critter, and said, ‘I know you do important work and get rid of other critters I may not like around, but you’d best go find a hideout somewhere or you won’t be around for long.’ Well, would you believe it that spider took off immediately covering a lot of ground very quickly, making a beeline for a spot that seemed to make for a perfect getaway. ☺️ Never saw it again. Life Lesson: Sometimes talking to your fears helps and makes them go away or at least not seem so fearsome.
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