diversity and love

We all have low points in our lives, we all feel less than our best. It is what we do with it that counts. When all of the dust settles, can we still love what we are left with when we look in the mirror. Mary Sullivan wrote a wonderful story called the carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean. It really does a great job of showing how we react to diversity, and what is left when the storm clouds clear.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.The mother filled three pots with water.In the first, she placed carrots.In the second she placed eggs.And the last she placed ground coffee beans.She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners.She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see.""Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. (You known the tone of voice.)She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside.Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" (Remember the tone of voice.)Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water."Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on yourdoor, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"Think of this: Which am I?Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wiltand become soft and lose my strength?Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financialhardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

I am quite certain that God loves coffee! SO often though we end up more like the egg or the carrot, and sadly enough we don’t really like that. If we look inside ourselves and don’t like what we see, how can we like let alone love anyone else effectively?
We have to let go of that pain that we are holding on to. God sent his son to pay for that pain you are holding on to. He sealed the deal with his death. All of that pain, all of that doubt, all of the little subtle whispers you hear telling you that you don’t deserve what you have, or that you are not good enough……drop them off at the feet of Christ. HE will take them, he does not want any of his children carrying that burden around. When you let go of that baggage, you can start to see the child of God that you are. If God love s you enough to offer up his son, than I promise you that you are worthy of love, better than that I would say that you deserve love!
Tonight when you are talking to the Lord, make it a point to leave your bag of bricks with him. Wake up tomorrow and step out of bed with your load lightened. Love yourself and the life you have been given. Then you will free yourself to love others.

Peace,
Rev. Thetford