. . . It’s the best way to have a real picture made!
Did that make you open this message because we referenced taking things off? Ha! It’s a different meaning of taking things off!
Yesterday’s message centered around that idea and how our lives CAN change if we are mindful about that which we see AND that which we believe.
Years ago, on one of our trips to Nebbi, Uganda, we were out in the community purchasing honey so Dr. Blinsink could teach the ladies how to make cough syrup. Some of the team members began talking with one of the vendors in the market.
They were struck by the meaningfulness of their conversation so they asked her if they could take her picture.
She agreed and began moving the scarf she had covering her neck, upper chest, and lower half of her face.
We assumed she was trying to get herself “picture ready.”
What does getting “picture ready” look like for you?
Have good posture. Choose your best angle, don’t just stand straight and look at the camera. Don’t press your arms up against your body. Find something for your hands to do instead of letting them just hang by your side.
Often times we want to capture “perfect” memories so when we are getting “photo ready” we have lots of things to do that we check off our mental list.
Interesting though . . . the lady in Uganda, in getting photo-ready, did the exact opposite of what we tend to do.
We try to make ourselves appear as good as we possibly can. Covering up imperfections and what we perceive to be abnormalities.
Instead of hiding her “imperfections,” she intentionally chose to bare them.
She chose to bare her scars.
As she removed her scarf she revealed horrific scars covering her chest, neck, and lower half of her face. She had been involved in a fire earlier in her life and the scars were results of 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns.
When, and only when, her scarf was removed and you could see the full scope of her scars did she smile and share she was ready for the picture.
Years later I wonder if her desire to reveal her scars was because of what they represented.
Just as the scars of Jesus revealed that death does not have the final victory and yes, seeing is believing. Perhaps her scars revealed her strength and ability to persevere through tragic, difficult things.
When we ponder the meaning behind our scars, where they came from, and what we went through for them to be there, we can process and understand things in a deeper, more intentional manner. We move from “seeing is believing” to being at a place in our souls and mind where believing is seeing!
Be proud of your scars. Bare them in the pictures of life that you write every day.