Colossians 3:12-14
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. (The Message)
I recently read a book called ‘My grandmother sends her regards and apologizes’. It was by no means a spiritual book but it was a very entertaining read. And something really struck a chord in me. Although it was only a novel, there was a fundamental aspect to the story that was true to life.
From the outset, the author led me down a colourful path as he introduced me to the characters and gently provoked me to form an ‘initial’ option of these characters. Like in any story, there were certain characters that were not easy to warm to. They were grumpy, set in their ways and completely unfriendly and unhospitable. They offered no reason for anyone to like them or for anyone to want to get to know them better.
But as the story unfolded and as certain characters were thrown together through a series of rather unforeseen events, I came to see a new facet of their character. I uncovered the raw and unsightly details of their past and began to understand how these significant moments had moulded them into who they were. Suddenly I could understand why they were the way they were.
The most interesting thing was that as the character began to be better understood and began to feel accepted, the essence of who they were began to change and they became all together likable and a wonderful, mutual friendship began to blossom between the characters.
Isn’t this just so true about life. We so often form an opinion about someone without ever getting to know them.
Isn’t is also so true about our interpretation about God.
We form an opinion about God and his character without really getting to know him.
The reality is that we only get to know someone when we spend time with them.
And we only get to know God when we spend time with Him.
Through time, we will come to know His character. His love. That His character is love. They cannot be separated, God and love, because God is love. The very essence of his Character is LOVE.
When reading a novel, the author leads us on the journey that they want us to travel. They gently influence our emotional response towards each character so that we can truly experience and appreciate the dimension of each character and relationship.
God is the author of our lives.
He has written the greatest and most beautiful story for us. Like any story, it has ups and downs, successes and failures, but the author is always there, always in control and always nudging the story to go in the direction that He has planned for it – if only we will let Him.
Let us enjoy living the story of our lives.
Let us enjoy allowing God to be the ultimate author.
Let us be more open to really get to know others.