HELLO!

Please keep Betty and Roy Rozee in your prayers, their grandson Gavin died over the weekend. Gavin’s funeral is Wednesday, August 5^th. Here is his obituary: https://ettingerfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/2028

The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Do not adorn yourselves by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

On Sunday I was walking through a graveyard and noted a man waving to me, he wanted me to stop. The man was carrying a nap-sack filled with sunscreen, sunglasses and envelopes with gift cards. After offering me all three of these items the man looked me up and down and asked if I had a place to sleep that night. Obviously, this was an outreach worker in search of persons “rough sleeping”. I looked the part. At my age, with my scraggly beard, I understood his assumption. I was not offended. But I thought later about our appearances and the assumptions all of us make when we see one another. As many know, I am not a visual person, rather I tend to associate people with the cadence, rhythm, and emphasis of their voice. But like most people, I do notice appearances. Making assumptions based on one’s clothing and grooming will never disappear. But it helps to acknowledge there is more to the other, more to our own selves, than how we appear. As you also likely know, I try to be consistent and note when I/others say one thing and do another. My friends who are most hurt by a comment made about their appearance will make frequent comments about others’ looks. It reminds me of Jesus’ teaching on judgement; the speck or log located in one’s eye (Matthew 7). Like judgement, assessing others’ appearance is a given, what is important is the context of others’ stories and the humility of our own actions.

Obviously, how one appears to another is a factor in how we perceive each other. But as mentioned before, the story that accompanies the image matters as well, and we open ourselves to wisdom, inspiration and deeper perspectives when we move from appearance to story. As a child, I remember asking my mother, “when people introduce each other why do they say, “This is (name) and his lovely wife (name)? Why is her appearance always part of the introduction?” My mother’s response? “You over-think everything, it’s just an expression”. I’ve shared this story before and some explain, “when I say his lovely wife, I mean her beauty on the inside”. My follow up question is, why then do you never hear anyone say, “this is my friend (name) and her lovely husband (name)”? I am concerned by how women are so often judged (by men and other women) by their appearance. My alternative? “Please meet (names), they are both gifted volunteers” (an expression I use). I hope this introduction reveals to others, “What is precious in God’s sight” 1 Peter 3:4.

Peace, Kevin

PS There is a congregation in Ontario that sends me letters/emails, asking me to consider becoming their minister. I have ignored their unsolicited correspondence, but I recently responded with “thank you for thinking of me but I am happy where I am now” email. I also attached this image. They acknowledged my reply and added, “you look very different than we imagined”. As they say, never judge a book by it’s cover…