October 26, 2009 - The Purple Boa
I was presented with the coveted "purple boa" at our children's fall retreat this past weekend. The boa is traditionally given to the "most spirited leader", of which I certainly didn't feel worthy of receiving, yet very honored, and humbled. My first reaction was "is this a joke?"...then felt very convicted that I needed to live up to what the boa represented. The kids in my group urged me to wear the purple boa to church the next morning - and I assured them I would, for them.
And I did.
In doing so, the Lord taught me a lesson. Isn't He good to always do that?
The purple boa was quite the attention getter.
Not the typical item of choice in a Southern Baptist church smack dab in the middle of the Bible belt. I definitely caused a few eyebrows to raise. What amazed me more and more throughout the morning that as people - adults - noticed, and even gave a second glance, they never ASKED or COMMENTED. I wasn't wanting a fuss made over me, mind you, but to be blatantly "different" within our church walls would, I think, bring reason for conversation - or so I thought.
Two, maybe three, openly commented on my attire - wondering "why the festive look" :) But most chose not to say a word...or even pretended not to notice.
As the morning went on, and I proudly strolled the halls, it became more obvious to me the lesson of the purple boa.
How many times do we notice that something just isn't right about a person...something is out of the norm or "off"? And we choose to ignore the obvious and act as tho everything is "fine"? How many times do we have the opportunity to ask, "Is everything okay?" and we don't. Reaching out and actually asking the question - taking time to engage in a conversation - takes effort and if I may add, caring. So we don't ask...but then perhaps when we get home we bring up "the purple boa" over lunch -- I can imagine! "Did you see Lisa at church today? Oh my, she had on a BOA - I can't believe she wore that to church!"....But we speculate. We guess. We simply do not take the time to UNDERSTAND WHY she had on that boa.
The purple boa represents anything that someone may be "wearing" that we simply don't want to look at...divorce, pain, sadness, loss, moodiness, death. Things that shape who we are. Emotions and aspects of life that we all deal with - and WANT someone to ASK - to get in our world and CARE.
The issue becomes the pink elephant in the room...or in this case, the purple boa.
When we choose to look away from what is necessary to address - where is our boldness for Christ?
When we choose to ignore - where is our compassion?
When we choose to talk about it later - we are gossips.
When we choose to wonder - we miss the opportunity to be used as a vessel for Christ.
Hebrews 12:14-15, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
Ephesians 4:25, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Ephesians 5:1-2, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice for God."
Matthew 7:1-2, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Comments
October 29, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by foxvalleyfamily
That is a lovely boa - congratulations to you for winning it...
but even more so...I LOVE the analogies that you made about it! AMEN!
Blessings,
Michelle
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