Words Hard to Say

I had my first personal run-in with the lovely conjunctivitis, goes by the street name: pink eye.

Oh, I’ve crossed paths with this felon before. As a schoolteacher, I’ve had my fair share of pink (stay away!) eyes in the classroom.  However, I’ve been on the sending end, gladly handing over the forlorn child to their parent with instructions to go to the doctor before returning. Buh-bye. Buh-bye now.

Yesterday morning I woke with the telltale crustiness over my left eye. [Sigh] Really? I won’t go into the gruesome details, but I will say that I had no idea pinkeye could pack such a punch. Six hours and one prescription later, I was enjoying a new lease on left-eye life.

It’s not so fun to actually walk in their shoes. Or eyes.

I think God is trying to keep a scenario fresh in my mind.

It all started a few Sundays ago when I wrestled with God about a gigantic burden I carried.

Yes, carried, as in the past tense.  Because, see, that Sunday I let go of that burden and did what God asked me to do: ask for forgiveness.

From another human being.  Not an easy thing to do.

Let me repeat it in a different way:

Words. Hard. To. Say.

No one likes to admit wrong.  No one likes to be (in the world’s eyes) on the bottom. Humanism wrestling with Holiness. Thank the Lord that Holiness won out. The result?  A peace greater than anything I have ever felt. Don’t read me the wrong way – it’s not a magical fix-all. Although at peace in my soul, there’s still a human side to my grace.   A “but how do they feel about it?” side that aches.

And that’s where the pink eye comes in. How? You say.

I’ve never considered how it was to walk in their shoes. The person that I asked forgiveness from.

There are a lot of external factors that ping us on a daily basis, let alone a lifetime of environment. Where I am in my relationship now with God is vastly different from a year ago, or even ten years ago. It’s not my place to judge journeys or impose a “forgiveness banner” when two parties are involved. I’m not in their shoes: on their journey: in their life: in their relationships. I’m only me. So I don’t know how they are reacting to and reading my request for forgiveness. I’m going to give God that problem. Because I know He can handle it.

I never would have thought that God would use my crusty eye for a life lesson. But the more I think about it, the more it’s right in front of me. The Bible constantly uses instances of spiritual and physical healing to drive an overarching point home: Jesus is our way and our Truth.

God constantly amazes, surprises, and inspires me with life lessons. May God give you grace and peace to face the burdens and struggles on your journey, and may He open your eyes to new viewpoints. Only, of course, if they are not crusted shut.

Inspired by Ephesians chapter 4.

{sharing with #TellHisStory & some of these communities}

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Lauren Arbogast

[the other] Lauren resists classification, but if all else fails, can be classified as a "get-your-hands-in-and-get-dirty" type of gal. She loves anything outdoors, especially if it involves her family and/or her farm. She keeps busy with 3.78 full time jobs + coffee with friends + occasional early morning runs. Lauren finds humor just as essential as coffee, as well as a Recklessness for her Jesus.

Latest posts by Lauren Arbogast (see all)

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