Issue 792 – Window Dressing -July 1, 2022
Happy Canada Day! May we celebrate the joys of living in this nation as we look forward to our eternal home.
I have added some window dressing to my office in the form of some house plants. They are in temporary planters, as I haven’t yet found the permanent pots I like.
I have a great view out the window into the backyard, but I also wanted to add some colour on this side of the glass. I opted for some plants I had successfully grown before, with pink and purple foliage and blooms coordinating well together.
The tradescantia (sometimes known as spiderwort or a wandering ethnic) will soon grow to the point where a hanging basket might be the best option, but there is an ideal spot near the window with a hook already in place to hold it.
The Hypoestes Phyllostachys (pink polka dot plant) is close to its maximum height but should fill in more. The polka dot plants will occasionally show small pink flowers and are very hardy.
I confess that I enjoy having plants in the house; they lift my spirits. In some of our former homes, I was accused of keeping jungles of plants to accompany my many tropical fish tanks. This space is small, so I will content myself with a few plants and no fish.
With my plants, I am actually dressing the window. Sometimes though, we apply window dressing to our lives.
Social media can be very revealing that way. People dress their social media pages up with images of how they would like their life to be seen and lived. Often the resemblance to reality is, at best, superficial.
We window dress for social situations and frequently do the same for Sunday worship.
We hide our doubts, fears, and struggles behind plastic smiles and unenthusiastic Christian jargon. Someone asks, and we reply, “I’m great,” while we are dying inside.
Now, there is a certain level of discernment and prudence required. Not everyone needs to know the deepest darkest recesses of your soul and life struggles. Every church has people who would jump on a perceived weakness to make themselves feel better or love to “share your struggles” with anyone they can get to listen.
Yet, one of the hallmarks of true Christian fellowship is that we have a safe environment to share the realities of life, both the highs and the lows. We are to be known for our grace, quickness to forgive lack of condemnation.
[Jesus said], “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:21
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
We can help foster that healthy environment by taking the time to listen to and care for one another. We can extend the grace and forgiveness to others we hope to receive.
We can also foster a healthy fellowship by choosing to be vulnerable and sharing the truth of our lives and struggles. There is always a risk of sharing not going as it should, but the rewards outweigh the risks in the long run.
Let us strive to remove the window dressing. May the transparency of our lives be the lens through which God’s grace is magnified.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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