Friday, August 14
A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
—Proverbs 16:28
We begin to find fault in others,attributing to them the pain we feel inside our own souls. The smallest deficiency in someone else is exaggerated until it seems worthy of some vituperative comment. We say things about them, we say things to them, we whisper and gossip as if the meanness of our words will somehow remove our own dissatisfaction.
Such words only exacerbate our bad feelings. Our heart becomes even more constricted as we fail to dwell in the goodness for which it was made. It takes only the slightest change in course to undo the damage and restore our heart to peaceful and hopeful goodness.
If we start with the next person we see— no matter who they are, or what they look like, or what we know about them— and simply look for the image of God in them, we will suddenly see beauty before us. Our strangled heart will gasp in awe. That small gasp of air will be the first tug that releases our inner knots and makes us smile with joy.
Gracious God, give me eyes to see your image in everyone, and let my words reflect what I see.
