Old Coats, Transparency and Hairy Biscuits

Many of us may have a favorite coat hanging in our closet. Maybe we have had it for years. It might be worn but we just cannot seem to discard it. We don't wear it year-round. Only when the weather seems right do we don our favorite coat. To others our coat may seem ragged and worn and in complete disrepair...but it's our favorite and so we keep it.

Last week at church I shared a struggle I had and I likened it to an old coat. When circumstances seem to warrant it I would pull out my old coat and wear it, often not realizing that I was wearing a new coat. The new coat doesn't always fit right. It's like new shoes...it takes time to break a new garment in. I have to stop and remember to put the old coat away even though it is familiar and comfortable.

Despite the old comfort, I know the Lord is asking me to wear this new coat. That helps me to maintain my perspective and to remember that if my life is going to be lived for Him, then my spiritual fashion choices cannot be about me.

We often hear in the news that most Americans want a transparent government. Just be honest. Say what you mean and mean what you say. It's an idea so crazy that it just might work. However, news reports seem to show otherwise. The transparency is harder than it seems. We, the People, sometimes get angry about this and don't understand what went wrong with our elected officials.

It has been said that when you point one finger at someone else, you have three more pointing back at you. So, are we transparent with one another? Personally, I love raw honest communication. I want to share my life, ideas, views and quirky nature with others but not everyone wants that information. I like learning the same about others but not everyone is willing to engage in a truly transparent way.

We have many reasons for being guarded and not wanting to trust or share. Some of us still have old coats in the closet and they are comfortable and warm. They may even feel safe. I wonder what would happen if many, not even all, of us took our old coats to Jesus and traded them for a new one. If we are going to start trying to trust and share again, then Jesus would be the best Person to start with.

I wonder what church would be like if we engaged in transparent communication with one another. I'm sure that some honesty would be hard to hear, but if it were truly spoken in love and in an effort to be transparent what might that accomplish? If we could more easily share our struggles and burdens would we then more easily be able to genuinely lift one another up in prayerful support? When we ask one another, "How are you today?", are we prepared to stop and listen to an honest answer? Are we prepared to give an honest answer? If not, why not?

I don't want a drive-thru church with drive-thru interaction. I want to go inside, be seated at a table, gathered with friends and enjoy a true meal of fellowship. Some people never eat out, whether it be fast food or fine dining. They are content to prepare every meal at home. They feed on God's word but deny themselves, and others, the opportunity to fellowship. Maybe they used to go out but found a hair in the biscuit one too many times. They would like fellowship but are a bit wary of what they may find. It's hard not to look for a hair in the biscuit after a few bad meals.

If you have never found a hair in your biscuit then it's hard to understand another's cautionary approach. It is warranted but can often overshadow a genuinely pleasant dining experience. Sometimes, many times, we don't know about the hairy biscuits others have encountered. We think they are being picky or rude and don't understand why they don't want to eat. In actuality they would love a good meal but they are so tired of having to be so cautious that it becomes easier to stay home and prepare their own meal.

The two greatest commands are accomplished with love. In Matthew 22:37-40 it is written, "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

1 John 4:7-8 says, "7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

1 Corinthians 13:8 says, "8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

The greatest power we can know is God's love for us. The greatest power we can wield is God's love for others. Can we really know God's love for ourselves if we are not transparent before our God? Can we really extend love to each other if we are not transparent before one another?

Our time on this earth is so limited but we get so caught up in deciding what coat to wear that we forget that we are on a narrow road. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Maybe it's time to discard our old coats and stop looking for the hair in the biscuit. Maybe we should put our eyes back on Jesus in simple obedience, being filled with his love and filling others with that same love. Let's start a new trend of transparency. Let's grow up, hear some hard truths as needed and grow! Accountability is a wonderful thing. Let's have some.

I love you all. Thanks for reading.