Labels

I like to read labels when I am in the grocery store. It is good to know what is on the inside of a can of soup. Labels can help me stay away from something inside a package that I don't want to put inside my body. Labels can really be helpful and a good thing...BUT I don't like labels when it comes to people.



Why?



Labels on cans of food are dead on accurate because the maker know what is on the inside, but when it comes to people only our "Maker" knows what is on the inside. My walk with God over the past two years has really caused me to take a deeper look inside, it has brought me to a place of introspection. I have realized how judgmental I used to be and in the process I have realized how I have labeled in the past and then made assumptions about what was inside (what was going on in that person's heart). I understand that biblically we are called to "judge people by their fruit" but I think sometimes we aren't judging fruit as much as we are assuming we know more about that person than we do (slap a label on that person from a distance then condemn them to hell). Surface relationships don't allow for knowing where a person is really living inside. One can't judge a book by its cover and I don't want to be a person who will judge a person only by the books they read. I guess I am writing this because our society tends to use labels for people, and I see this in Christian circles too. I am writing this because it is really on my heart that I don't want to label someone without knowing what is on the inside. Jesus said that some saying "Lord Lord" wouldn't make it to heaven which means that there were people who were labeled as followers by human standards, but were not accurately labeled. He knows hearts and can see through feeble human attempts to label others. I just know that God has brought me to a good place a place of wonder and awe for his unfailing love and his incredible justice. He has brought me to a place of reverence for who He is, and a place where more than ever I want to know Him and his heart. The world can label me however they want but my Maker knows what is on the inside and I keep working on my heart to be more like His.

Butterfly Circus

I was moved to write tonight by watching a 20 minute movie by my lovely wife. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I literally believe that this is one of the best movies I have ever watched. It says so much so incredibly well. Take the time to watch it and then post your thoughts here, I would love to have a conversation about what this film says to you. You can see the film in full screen by going to The Doorpost Film Project and search for Butterfly Circus.

Eye, eye!

So one thing I want to start doing better is writing on my blog. I have an uncle in Ks who checks it regularly so I want him to have something to read this year.

I went to the eye Dr. Friday (this is my local Dr. who will take care of me from here - not my surgeon) to get fitted for a new lens. The Dr. said we basically 3 options. One is to try and put a new posterior lens in, newer technology but all the connective tissue used to hold that lens was damaged and removed so that is not a good option at all. The second option (suggested by the surgeon) is an older style of lens an anterior lens. This a pretty good option as the lens is placed in front of where the original lens was, it has been around a long time and works pretty well. The down side is that at some point down the road I will likely have to have it replaced (15 - 20 years) and it isn't as good of technology as the other two options. The final option is to simply use a contact lens. Obviously this option is the least invasive and the simplest way to go. My local Dr. recommends this option at least to start with because there is no surgery, it gives my eye more time to heal and a contact can even correct scars on the cornea. I still have stitches in my eye and a contact can be used over the stitches and my Dr. would like to leave the stitches in longer as that helps it have less scar tissue on the cornea and will make sure it is completely healed. All this to say I will be getting a contact lens on Wednesday. I like this option for the fact it is easy, fast and high quality vision (I am hoping anyway). I also like it because it is not invasive and I can choose surgery as technology improves or if I don't like messing with a contact. So that is the plan for now, we will see how it goes and go from there.
K
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