When I arrived at the launch site, there was someone loading a kayak on her car who looked familiar. Then I remembered she was the person who taught my daughter Asherel's first agility class so many years ago with our dear Honeybun. She didn't think we were ready for an agility trial when we signed up for one, but was willing to give us some help anyway. As it turned out, Honeybun won first place in her beginner level competition and proved she was indeed ready. I walked over, and said, "I know you, but I am blanking on your name."
"Deb," she said, then recognized me, "Oh, I remember your dog, Honeybun."
(Dog people rarely remember the owners, but they never forget the dog.)
We exchanged brief catch-ups on our lives and I asked her how the river was, since she had just finished kayaking.
"The current is really strong," she said, "Head upstream on your way out."
I glanced at the river. The water looked mirror smooth. I can usually tell just by looking at the river what the current is like. I would never have imagined it was moving fast beneath such a placid surface.
Still, I thanked Deb for the advice, and launched onto the glassy water. I had no trouble going out against the current but after half an hour of paddling upstream, realized I had not gotten nearly as far as I normally do in half an hour. The current was deceptively strong.
I thought about how so often people fool us in a similar way. They look so together, so peaceful, so happy, so confident on the outside. However, dig very deeply into anyone's life and you hit rocks. Nothing is ever as smooth and tranquil as it seems. And then, some folks are terrible, rotten people on the outside, but covering a soul that is nonetheless precious to God. I had read just that morning a post from a fellow pro-life sidewalk counselor about one of the most vile bouncers (parking lot guard) at the abortion mill where I volunteer. He is hateful, often drunk, belligerent towards us, and obscene in language and gestures. His name is, ironically, Lazarus. Two days ago, one of the counselors offered Lazarus some donuts, out of her heartfelt love of God and desire to love even her enemies as God loves us. Lazarus was astounded, and admitted that he had recently lost his home, and his car, and was actually very hungry with little money for food. He apologized for his behavior and thanked her for the donuts. It made me desire to pray more ardently for Lazarus, that he would indeed see the truth of the Gospel, change his heart and his job, and metaphorically be raised from the dead like his Biblical namesake.
As I turned to race back to shore on the current that was somehow hidden beneath the tranquil waters, I thought how careful we should all be before making assumptions that what we see on the outside is really what there is on the inside as well. I hope the realization will make me a little gentler, a little more forgiving of others, and a little more careful with them, knowing that every person was called into being by a loving God.
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