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Last month I heard a
message
from
my
pastor
admonishing us to “get past the
dirty shirt.” It warned against the
temptation to pre-judge others
based on appearances or
misperceptions
before
you
actually get to know them. He
quoted a popular country
western singer who used the
phrase, “if you just get past the
dirty shirt, you can meet some
really great people.”
Appearance is everything?
It reminded me of an
experience my father had about
25 years ago when he owned a
successful commercial painting
company. He painted big
structures like schools, water
towers, shopping malls and
Porsche dealerships. One day he
checked out a job site wearing
dirty
work
clothes.
His
appearance was that of one of
the painters rather than the
president of a large company.
He
walked
around
examining the work, but also
wanted to see if anyone
recognized him as he had been
there before. No one came up to
him or even acknowledged him
as they prejudged him as
someone insignificant because of
his appearance. So he just
wandered around the lot
unnoticed. A few days later, he
went back to the same job site,
but this time in a jacket and tie (I
always thought my dad looked
great all dressed up). This time,
on his way to see the owner of
the dealership, he was swarmed
upon by a pack of used car
salesmen, literally. He mentioned
to them that they didn’t
approach him the last time he
was there and smiled and moved
on.
Judging by the outward
We are all guilty of it. We
determine who a person is by
how he looks, talks or acts.
Sometimes we just go on what
other people say without
listening to the person himself.
Other times we will just go on
past
experiences
or
misunderstandings. No matter
how you size him up, he never
has a chance to be known for
who he really is unless you give
him the chance. The question is:
do you think he is worth it?
On the other hand, are you
worth it? Do others determine
who you are by how you look,
act or talk? Do they go on what
they have heard about you
without asking you? Do they go
on
past
experiences
or
misunderstandings about you?
Do others give you the chance
to make yourself known or do
they size you up and walk on
by? The point is you are worth it
and so are they.
God looks at the heart
The remedy is to see people
how God sees people. He always
looks
past
the
outward
appearance straight to the heart.
He sees us with all our flaws,
weaknesses and failures, as well
as all our strengths and talents.
He sees who we were, are, and
will be. But more importantly, he
knows our heart. He values us
and thinks we are worth his love
and attention. He proved this by
giving us his Son and allowing
him to die for us. He hears our
cries, our laughter, our fears and
frustrations, and loves us
unconditionally. He is full of
mercy and compassion.
I’m guilty
We recently moved to a new
office. Just after we moved in, the
property
manager
and
contractor disappeared on us.
You can imagine how we felt
after just moving in. We were
eager to get settled in and back to
work, but that wasn’t going to
happen without the contractor
finishing his work. At first, I was
frustrated that the work had
come to a halt. I determined that
they were irresponsible and
unreliable.
I found out later that one
had a serious medical incident
and was hospitalized. The other
lost his mother and was out of
town taking care of things. You
can imagine how I felt when I
found out the truth, instead of
what I perceived. Cards and
prayers went out instantly and
our hearts began to understand
what we didn’t know. We were
able to see fromGod’s perspective
that they were hurting people in
need of love and compassion.
They were worth our time
and
attention.
Instead
of
complaining and demanding that
they do their job, we had the
opportunity to make known to
them the love and kindness of
God. And in the process of getting
to know them, we got to see the
treasure God has hidden in them
as well, and we were blessed.
Next time you see the dirty
shirt, will you stop to see the one
God put behind that shirt, or will
you walk on by and miss the
treasure?
Grif Blackstone is the president of
Blackstone Media Group and
publisher of the Good News, the
largest Christian newspaper in
Florida. To contact him, email him
at: grif@bmgcreative.com or call
954-564-5378 x 210.
>
- Grif Blackstone -
Get Past the Dirty Shirt
Good News - Broward Edition
2 August 2013
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