Things Are Not Always As They Seem

My 10yo daughter is working on a “scavenger costume” to wear while she wields her new bow and arrows which she and her daddy made together. So yesterday, she came to me with a black shirt and camo duct tape, excitedly declaring, “Mom! I’ve made up the design I want to tape onto my costume shirt! It will be my character’s emblem! It’s two 5’s on top of each other like this…Isn’t it cool?”

And there I beheld the (innocently drawn) swastika on the piece of paper before me. (Did I mention my daughter is African-American? And that we’re by no means racist or Nazis?)

I quickly informed her that the emblem she had drawn was already taken by a population we did NOT wish to be associated with and encouraged her to change it up a bit. But I must admit to laughing out loud when I thought of my beautiful black daughter traipsing through the neighborhood, weapon in hand, clothed in a camouflaged swastika. Things would NOT have been as they seemed! (The neighbors already think we’re crazy. No need to fuel the fire).

Speaking of innocent mistakes; a few years ago, I entered the bathroom at Sea World, took care of my business, then busied myself in front of a mirror redeeming what was left of faded make-up and wind-blown hair. I’m not sure how long I stood there oblivious to reality when it dawned on me that those were urinals I was seeing behind me in the mirror….and…hmmm…why were there only 2 stalls in there to start with?….what?….   HOLY COW! I was taking my time in the men’s room!

I ran out of there faster than the Flash and seated myself next to my family at our picnic table RELIEVED that I had escaped unnoticed. Well, that is, until a male passerby whispered in my ear in a jolly English accent “So you’re a little peeping Tom, eh?” Things were TOTALLY not what they seemed…

And that’s life, isn’t it? I don’t know why you’re wearing what you’re wearing or hanging out in the (wrong) rest room anymore than I know what pain has brought you to this place or what secret sins you’re fighting to escape. Yet, often, I judge. Usually I judge because you’re too “happy” or “put together”. But how am I to know that your even smile isn’t hiding a failing marriage or an unfathomable loss God is sustaining you through? Things aren’t ALWAYS as they appear to be.

And things aren’t always as we MAKE them appear to be. As real as I want to be in this blog, there are still things too private or deep to share with the world that are shaping me, or constantly convicting me, or continuing to grow me into who I am.

So I’m learning to listen to those around me even when their mouths are closed and smiles are plastered. And to pray for those I come in contact with, knowing that, whether their kids are top of their class or serving prison sentences, they are God’s treasures in need of His grace.

Things are not always as they seem.

Even though the men’s room should have been a given…