the chest of drawers

I got it

at rummage sale

it was 35 dollars

The person

said that her grandmother had it

(or maybe it was a great grandma )

it was old and very well used

　

even though it had had some ornate decorations

the top was covered up with lots of scratches

the person showed me where as kid

she had scratched her name into the top

　

it was interesting piece

And we could use it,,

least thats what I told myself

I needed a project like that

so I started refinishing it

　

The scratches on the top were just in the varnish

and they came right out

but then

I noticed

that it had this chunk of wood splintered off in the back

(But it was just in the the back)

and some of the old stain

was actually covering up some tough stains

.

and there were some other scratches

that were a little deeper

even a gouge or too

this furniture had been though a few repairs

some of the repairs

were pretty good

I could see some old staples

in the drawers corners

and then

there was the place where

It had been hit with a hammer

right in the front

...had those hammer head dents

　

　

but I kept working on it

and some

of those wear marks and hammer marks

(we could call them stress marks

maybe some antiquing)

and basically

its going to work out



I think it looks pretty good

its got character

I would say ..its one of a kind...you cant buy something like that.

now

somebody else

might have lookd at that chest of drawers

and said

that’s just a beat up old piece of furniture

not worth much at all

maybe its junk

it had already sat there

for a day without being sold



but I saw

some thing there..



Im thinking

that we are like that old chest of drawers



wouldn’t you like to be treated like that chest of of drawers

in this way



Don’t you want somebody to look at you

and see something in you

　

despite or inspite of

what you might look like

on the outside

and what has happened in your life

　

here is the question

What is in you

behind the damage

and the stains

and the scratches

and the wear and the tear ?

what is inside of you?

underneath the homemade self repairs

that maybe worked out

or maybe they didn’t ..



but nevertheless its what happened

　

isnt there something in side of you



that is deeper

than the hammer marks

so to speak



well there is

there is

something like that in you

and in the church

we call that your soul



you got soul



we are the kind of people

l who believe in things that cant always be seen

we believe in things like souls

You have an inner design and a beauty

　

you have a value and character

that is still there

always there

even though your outside



your surface life

your circumstances

might not

look like much sometimes

　

　

you are a soul

　

　twe are gods children

we are spiritual being

with a living connection to God

　

　

we are not just what goes on in the surface s of our life

ths is abid deal!!!



we need to hear that again and again

we are not just our conditions

you are not just a body

not just a gender

not just a nationality

not just a job

not just a number

not just

any of those conditions or circumstances

　

of course all of that of Touches you

shapes you.



.its part of your identiy

don’t misunderstand me. .its all wrapped up with you

and in many way its your story



just as the dresser has a story



So and so

carved her name in this place



and it has this broken part



that Happened

And all that



that furniture

was in a certain house

it had its history

so do we all



but you

are still something else

There is still



that essential design and value

within you

a diserability

this character of your own

..a uniqueness

you are a child of God

and Gods sees you that way

　

you are a beloved soul

no matter what has happened

God sees that in you

god loves you that way deeply



God see through the damages



and the wear and tear and



all of the ‘whatever"



god see your inner wonder



and treasures your soul

thats good news isnt it

do you believe that?



Do live liek that and behave like that

　

It means that you are seen with grace

Living with grace

is to see... and

to be seen

the way

that Jesus sees you



We see still need to be a church

like that today



Chrsitians that

sees that beauty and worth in every person



we need to be people

who can see beyond the surface

\can see

the trashed

abused

the stained

Patched up

and stilll love them



because we still know who

we all are

we know

that you are still a treasure

maybe there on the inside

and By god

by god grace

we are going to treat you that way

we do not discount people

or toss them away

we are in the restoration business



the refinishing work of Jesus Christ



let God love you at that core

at the center

in your soul

And love everyone else through you

　

at your..true life.

How is it with you soul

as you leave the doors



of ths sanctuary this morning

walk out of here as a living soul

and as best you can.

.by the Help of God

do not hurt a living soul