Into the Fire

Remember when it was hip to wear some clothes inside out? The tag showed, the seams displayed, yeah, inside out. I don't remember when it was either – maybe it's still hip in some cases or maybe the outside is dirty and it's just easier to wear it inside out instead of having to wash it. Who knows?

A few clothes worn inside out could pass the "okay" test. Others just looked like they were inside out without making any kind of hip fashion statement.

So now let's talk about people. In the physical realm, no, we don't want to see people from the inside out. Not even. But in the spiritual realm that inside "grooming" will permeate the outside appearance. And sometimes what's on the inside eventually ruins what's on the outside – no matter how attractive.

The spiritual inside of our humanity is the focus of God. What governs us shows up. What motivates us to act, to dress, to speak the way we do is evident in a short period of time, unless we masquerade as someone we're not. God sees right through all of our designs. His gaze penetrates to the hidden places of the spiritual heart. He knows.

To bring the creative writing aspect of this to the front, if we as writers cannot draw our characters from the inside out, we leave an untouched dimension to who they are. It's not good enough to portray them as good or evil. There's so much more to an individual than their tendencies. There's a reason some of us struggle with right and wrong and some of us don't. We need to go deep inside to see who these characters are and if we can make them easy to identify with but unique to themselves. Or will they cause repulsion by their psyches?

When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Are you seeing yourself from the inside out?

Father, thank you for love so big, we can't comprehend it. Before we know you, you already know us and you love us. Too big for me. Amazing God. Amazing Grace. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.