Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Do Not Open With Sharp Objects
At work today, as I was helping to train a new associate, we needed to clear a lot of merchandise out of the stock room, and it was still all in boxes. There had been a rather large shipment yesterday, and there simply wasn't enough time to deal with it. It has to be on the floor or on a shelf in the stockroom by tomorrow as we are expecting another shipment very early in the morning. The new recruit and I joked heartily about the notice written on each box which stated, "Do Not Open With A Sharp Instruments" (They were imported items, thus the imperfect English), as we ripped out our boxcutters and sliced the tape to each one. We were wondering exactly how one does actually open a box in a timely manner without a boxcutter? It's quite difficult as you must find the end of the tape that holds the box closed, pry it up with your fingernail and then pull it completely off. This is a process which is not only time consuming, but painful to those of us who do not grow "glamour nails" (not that we could in this line of work, anyhow). Still, I understand the reasoning behind not using the blade. There are delicate items inside the boxes that could be damaged if one is not paying attention. One small slit in a beautiful bedspread would render it unsellable and we, as associates, would then have to "damage it out". It would never be of any use to anyone.
Yep, here it comes...
How does God open our hearts? Does he do it quickly, demanding what's inside of us to come out immediately at the risk of damaging our relationship with him? Or does he gently coax us with his loving nature, knowing that a slow process is always the best way to help us learn and retain His way? God doesn't use a boxcutter with us if He doesn't have to. He goes through the pains of finding the beginning of our love for him, (not that he has to FIND it because he already KNOWS that source), and then he quietly pulls us toward him until our hearts are loosed and ready to be opened up. That doesn't mean that he hasn't ever taken the fast track, because I've seen that, too. I've seen God pull out that golden box cutter and, in a flash, force a heart open. In my opinion, for God, the box cutter is a last resort, because it is very painful. Anyone who has come directly to God after a near death experience can tell you about it.
Qu'ran tells us:
"Then those who believe in Allah, and hold fast to Him,-soon He will admit them to mercy and grace from Himself, and guide them to Himself by a straight way. An-Nisa 175.
The Bible says:
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert...Psalm 95:6-8
I'm sure that if God wanted to, He would have us all come to Him without question, automatically faithful, but then that would make Him a dictatorial God. That's where free will comes into play. He can open our hearts in various ways, but when it comes down to it, WE are the ones who actually choose whether or not God will open our hearts. The only way a heart can open up completely is if we allow it to be opened. Even with a boxcutter. He is so gracious that He gives US the choice. (This thought blows my mind completely.) Unfortunately, the consequences of that choice have a direct bearing on how we will spend eternity. How will you choose? Tape or boxcutter? Or will you just let that beautiful item inside stay there until it is no longer useable to anyone?
Does all of this mean that I will stop using my boxcutter at work as a divine symbol of God's gentle love? No. I'm only human.
Yep, here it comes...
How does God open our hearts? Does he do it quickly, demanding what's inside of us to come out immediately at the risk of damaging our relationship with him? Or does he gently coax us with his loving nature, knowing that a slow process is always the best way to help us learn and retain His way? God doesn't use a boxcutter with us if He doesn't have to. He goes through the pains of finding the beginning of our love for him, (not that he has to FIND it because he already KNOWS that source), and then he quietly pulls us toward him until our hearts are loosed and ready to be opened up. That doesn't mean that he hasn't ever taken the fast track, because I've seen that, too. I've seen God pull out that golden box cutter and, in a flash, force a heart open. In my opinion, for God, the box cutter is a last resort, because it is very painful. Anyone who has come directly to God after a near death experience can tell you about it.
Qu'ran tells us:
"Then those who believe in Allah, and hold fast to Him,-soon He will admit them to mercy and grace from Himself, and guide them to Himself by a straight way. An-Nisa 175.
The Bible says:
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert...Psalm 95:6-8
I'm sure that if God wanted to, He would have us all come to Him without question, automatically faithful, but then that would make Him a dictatorial God. That's where free will comes into play. He can open our hearts in various ways, but when it comes down to it, WE are the ones who actually choose whether or not God will open our hearts. The only way a heart can open up completely is if we allow it to be opened. Even with a boxcutter. He is so gracious that He gives US the choice. (This thought blows my mind completely.) Unfortunately, the consequences of that choice have a direct bearing on how we will spend eternity. How will you choose? Tape or boxcutter? Or will you just let that beautiful item inside stay there until it is no longer useable to anyone?
Does all of this mean that I will stop using my boxcutter at work as a divine symbol of God's gentle love? No. I'm only human.
