Soon these freshly painted lobster buoys will be floating upon the ocean’s surface where their colors will mark the position of lobster traps lying on the bottom. Although these buoys cannot tell us what is happening underneath, their markings identify their owner and inspire a hopeful expectation for something good to surface.
We know outward appearances are limited in showing our true nature. We manage a “good face,” but inadequacies and insecurities agitate beneath the surface, or we may be wrongly judged by our name, skin color, family lore, physical appearance, personality, social standing, intellect or skill set. The true measure of our identity lies deep within our natures , where we struggle with self perception, with “growing into our skin,” with acceptance of our unique combination of strengths and weaknesses, where our moral compass resides and private conflicts and inconsistencies churn about.
Although we may be kind, loving, and honest, even our generosity, compassionate acts, and caring contributions to the common good are often tainted by obligation, secondary personal gain, pride, self promotion, or leverage for some purpose! That idea is a distasteful thought. But if we consider and understand the Moral Law to mean loving God above all others and loving one’s neighbor as much as we love ourselves, and if we accept that Code as brilliantly crafted for both our personal and common good, or if we consider the “fruit” of the Spirit of God to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, we then find ourselves in a difficult and morally deficient place. Regardless of how “good” we may “look” to friends and acquaintances, none of us has a perfect moral record. We are unholy people.
Deep diving into self evaluations need not depress or make us anxious. The Psalmist expressed this in his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Admitting (confessing) and changing (repenting) actually may lead one to spiritual freedom and to forgiveness from God. Although those who are marked as Christ-followers by their profession of faith bear a burden of high expectations, both personal and public, they have to humbly confess inner struggles and moral failures. Frequently very little understanding or grace is shown them for their failures. Thankfully, Christ is the mediator of God’s gracious, merciful love, forgiveness, redemption, and eternal hope.The Apostle Paul said that belief means living with faith in the Son of God because he loved and gave himself for us (Galatians2:20) Christ did that by dying on a cross as a sacrifice and payment for humanity’s sins.
The cross, a symbol of Christian belief, is sometimes worn as a piece of jewelry or an emblem on a hat or t-shirt. Just as buoys identify and traps reveal, if the cross-bearer truly identifies with Christ , grace and truth will eventually surface in a compassionate, humble, forgiving, generous spirit.
Sweet Words from Maine 