Are you pointing at me?

Here's an email my wife recently received: 

"Linda,

I really want to thank you for offering up the rosemary. 

(Ok, stop here. My wife loves to garden so she planted a bunch of rosemary starters & then posted the free starters on freecycle. Several people, including this person accepted the gift.) Resume email... 

I am the only person in my little enclave of a neighborhood of 10 homes that ever does any road maintenance, weed abatement, culvert repair, etc. of the property that is used by all and technically/legally supposed to be cooperatively maintained/paid for. Since I spend my own money (rather than on attorney’s fees and small claims costs to force/sue them to do what they are legally obligated to do) and be as productive as possible, any contributions of free material are most welcome.

The rosemary is going to help prevent erosion and hopefully outcompete Scotch broom I removed on a slope above the culvert that my husband and I installed before last year’s ridiculously wet winter. Fortunately, we alone prevented the roadway from collapsing further and washing out. The broom covered slope is a serious fire hazard and just below the home of an older man in poor health, so I voluntarily protect and maintain that portion of his property for him. Your contribution will benefit many other people than just myself (though most in the enclave don’t recognize, acknowledge or take the time to be grateful).   

We don’t always know the impact our actions have on others; I wanted you to know that your generosity and kindness made a difference."

I am often mystified by people, how complex we are, & how broken we are. I find that I often get blamed for things. Now no doubt I am to blame for all of my actions, & if we engage in a healthy mature conversation I will gladly take all responsibility for my actions; however, what I often find is when people play the blame game the pointer is generally pointed outward. 

One morning I went surfing & paddled by a man as I was trying to get at good spot to sit in the lineup. Well, evidently I made this man mad because he started cussing at me. I calmly paddled up to the man & apologized, which oddly made him cuss at me more, which of course made me more resolute in my apologies until finally he stopped, accepted my apology, & said, "Its not you man. Its just that everyone out here is an idiot." Really. Out of 30+ people out here, you & I are the only non-idiots? I'll surf with them thank you very much.

Surf, culvert repair, work, relationships, church, family: Whose fault is my frustration? 

As I read this email I thought of this woman coming to our church. What would she see?

What would you see? I think what we see often says more about us than what is actually there. Talk to me about your dad, neighbors, co-workers, spouse, friends, etc.

Jesus offers to clean us from the inside so that we might see the outside with healthy eyes. If we're unable to see the outside as it truly is, than we are robbed of ever experiencing real relationships because, how can we truly love something we can't trust, & how can we truly love someone if they bare the burden of our brokeness perceived or real?

Jesus offers to clean us from the inside so that we might see the outside with healthy eyes & truly be able to enjoy surfing, culverts, rosemary, relationships, work, & see people as the image of God everywhere instead of the engine driving the vehicle of my pain.