It’s interesting how we as humans have names for things in
nature that are really an inaccurate description. We call a pine a “Douglas fir;” or a
caterpillar a silkworm. We call a beetle
a firefly and a rodent we call a Prairie dog!
Even the guinea pig is not at all indicative of his name! He is not a pig, nor is from New Guinea, but
South America! And the Bald Eagle isn’t
even bald, he has a white head!
"Names” can be deceptive. Life can be like that sometimes, too. What you see, isn’t what is real, at
all. And sometimes when an opinion is
shared about a perceived wrong, it’s hurtful since the criticism is only seen
from the surface and they have no idea about “the rest of the story!”
My friend is a “hugger” by nature. She thinks nothing of giving a close friend,
male or female, or an acquaintance a spontaneous hug. She’s even been known after a quick
conversation to even give a near stranger one!
Her husband and she have discussed this behavior and he is completely at
ease with the natural affection she shows for other human beings. It seems to bring a warmth and vitality to
her and others, which many are drawn to, yet reluctant to share.
“There are times,” she told me, “when I give a hug,
especially to an older person and the person says, ‘thank you!’ That seems weird to me!” I also thought that seemed particularly odd,
but as she shared, and I thought on it a while, it occurred to me the hug given
might be the only physical contact another person has had all day. It wouldn’t seem so, given the population of
the world, but we live in a very lonely society!
My friend continued with a rather
sad reflection. One morning she received
an email from a person she only knew indirectly, who clearly misinterpreted the
affection she showed to another friend.
She was stunned. “How could that
have happened?” she asked me. “I would
never…..” her voice trailed off.
It’s interesting and sad that people
make judgment calls on another from what they perceive they see, without really
knowing all the details. I guess we all
do that sometimes; by putting people in “boxes.” We think we know what the person is like
because of their clothes, the way they wear their hair, are around other people,
or sometimes even by what they choose to eat (or not eat!). That’s not to say sometimes, judgment calls
without complete knowledge aren’t always incorrect. But there are times the call is off the mark,
pure and simple, so it’s best not to make those calls!
When we are judged, we have to place
our hearts and behavior before the Lord and ask if we were in the wrong in some
way. If God does not convict us of sin,
then we must let the misconception by another not sway us from doing what we
believe God is telling us to do, like my friend who chooses to “purely”
love. God embraces those who are willing
to share affection. In fact, we are told
in the Bible to encourage one another, and to love!
So I challenge you to consider how
you give or show affection and how you react when others freely give. Can you see God in the gesture?
http://listverse.com/2008/05/28/25-things-that-are-not-what-they-seem/
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