From black and white to colour

Years ago when a friend returned from Israel he described his trip as an experience that turned his black and white Bible into colour. It was a clever analogy and one that I was reminded of yesterday while I sat curled up on the couch, my Bible open.

This experience in South Africa is doing that to me.  Parts of the Bible that I have known most of my life in black and white are staring at me now, not only in colour but in 3D. It is exciting. But like someone who has been given glasses and is able to see clearly for the first time, it has also been overwhelming and soul changing as I come to terms with what this means for my life and how it will change things from now on. 

My last blog post reflecting on our first year in South Africa was the start of this heart change in me. That night back in May I blurted out raw unprocessed feelings onto the keyboard and published with little thought as to my readership and how it would be interpreted.  It offended some and I have taken their criticism to heart.  I won't lie and say it didn't shake me. I was horrified that I had offended, I learnt first hand the danger of social media and how quickly something can spread and be read by people who don't share my views or heart. Assumptions were made, rightly or wrongly but that is what happens when you paint too broad and wide with your brush like I had.  To be honest I wanted to pull down this blog and go to ground. And I did. I dug deep and deeper.

And while underground I reached for my Bible.  All those raw unprocessed thoughts that were illustrated in my blogpost, reflective of the struggle in my heart; the questions, the doubts, were answered.  Matthew 25 verse 35 words I have read before, jumped out at me in full colour.  
(Dressed like Elizabeth if you may)

"For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat: I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me..." v40 "The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me."

The fact is that many people are living out this commandment and are doing amazing things.  If my last blog post made it sound like I was the only one thinking the thoughts I did, I am sorry.  I know there are many people out there doing great work.

So over this next month I want to feature people I know who are inspiring me with the work they are doing.  Inspiring me as they find their calling within that big calling of Matthew 25 verse 35.  Because there are many ways in which to carry out our job description as christians and God has gifted everyone differently.

So I am so excited about this month. I hope you will be as inspired as I am.  After August I'll do a post on how homeschooling is going because I know you are all keen to hear about that too.  We are still in the honeymoon period with it so I think it best to wait a few weeks before I update you.

It's really nice to be back.