So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5: 16-17
Having been a teen in the early 70's, I reaped the aftermath of the late 60's. Snide phrases, bell bottom jeans, Chevy vans, and the demise of The Beatles, all served to make my impressionable years "far out." And though my age bracket made great strides in setting new trends one phrase seemed to hold tight. "You're square, man."
I suppose being the scrawny and somewhat nerdish teenage girl left me no option but to be considered "square." I didn't drink, smoke or do drugs. Didn't run around or rebel, so I was square. Still, I was who I was. Take me or leave me and honestly, most left - that was the price you paid for being the ''square peg in a round hole.''
However, as I grew into adulthood, I found that my heart rested comfortably in the hands of the Master, and when I offered this insecure and sad person to Him, things began to change. He took me, in my square form and smashed the shape, pressing, pushing, squeezing and forming me into something new. When He was finished I was nothing like the old me. I was completely new. He hadn't reformed me, reconstituted me, nor was I a rebirth - I was brand new. Built from the clay up.
My life and my heart had new perspective. Joy and happiness filled me and I found in my newness, a peace and hope for the future. I fell deeper in love with the Father, grateful daily for His sense of art. He formed me from a square of clay into a ball. The ills of the past were gone, and though I certainly have faced new hardships they have undoubtedly tweaked the hard spots and smoothed the rough edges.
Now, I look at the world from the eyes of the Father and I try to see the needs of others, the need to repent and the need for forgiveness. One thing is for sure, I'm glad Jesus saw that as a SQUARE I had the potential to become a BALL. Life is much better. I laugh a lot these days, and though I have sad times, they are few. Things tend to bounce off me where years ago they stuck to the flat surface of the square.
I don't know what shape you're in, but if you feel burdened I know a potter who does beautiful freelance work. He'll take you and make you brand new, give you new eyes and new hope. Would you like to meet Him?
2 comments:
I was a teen in the early 70's to. I was very very backward with just a few friends. I was told to no one wanted to spend time with someone who never "talked". I prayed that God would give me a personality that would attract people, someone that others wanted to be around. Now at almost 52 years of age I never got that personality that I prayed so hard for. I know now that God can use my shyness to shine for Him. I glad He loves me just the way I am.
Funny how we change as we grow older. Being bashful is probably how God uses you. I would call that humility. I have a friend is bashful and her greatest quality is her humility and kindness. She doesn't have to speak to change the hearts of others. She does it thru her humility.
To quote my co-writer on a novel, Aaron....he would say, "You ROCK!" Be proud of the person you are. God uses you in ways you cannot imagine.
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