5/16 From the Inside Out

I used to muse about the ministry of John the Baptist and wonder why the Lord of all creation needed an “introduction” or a way prepared before Him. I thought that the Word of God was effective enough without the “cleaning up” first, but I see some things in a new light now. You see, I have learned that when we are involved in something, we see it much differently than we do when we remove ourselves from it, and look back. I find this to be true in every scheme and vice that we can imagine. When I was a smoker, I had a very different take on the evils and dangers of smoking! When involved in drugs, the chant was that “every body does it” so we thought that it could not be all that bad; when I was “religious” but lost, I saw things from that perspective, and on and on it goes. When we are on the outside looking in, we see things differently than when we are in the midst of it. It is always true. It is only fair to say though that we must sometimes see both perspectives, from the two different viewpoints by putting ourselves inside as well as outside. The door swings open both ways. I entitled this dialogue “From the inside out” but perhaps it should be also “From the outside in”, because both perspectives are necessary to see the entire picture. I once wrote a story to this effect.

In my story, I pictured myself outside a catholic church, where I could see, but not hear, everything that was going on. Looking through a window, from the outside, perhaps, one would observe people standing, then kneeling, and sitting at various times throughout the service. One might see the priest raise the cup above his head, and see his lips moving, but not hear anything he says. To the observer then, it looks foolish and somewhat animated, with no real meaning or purpose, but when he enters the service, more is revealed, and things become a little clearer. Now, this was the gist of the story, and not the facts in my life, but the point is made. There are clearly two viewpoints from which one might make certain observations and conclusions, but neither, of itself can be totally accurate. You see, there are two sides to every story. When we are wrapped up in our own lives, and involved in many evils and vices, we do not se the danger, nor the error of them in the full extent of it; we only get half the picture. We draw certain conclusions from what we know, and what has been observed or revealed to us, without all the facts. In this story, I was on the outside, looking in; but more specifically, I would like to speak on being on the inside and looking out.

You have no doubt heard the expression that “the grass is always greener in the neighbor’s yard”? Well, that simple illustration depicts our thinking on many aspects of life. When we are in the midst of…say the church, and looking out at the foolishness of the “world”, things can look quite bleak; however, when we are out in the world, and we view the church from that perspective, opinions can also be distorted and surmising can result in much confusion.

One wonders what we project to the outsider who is scrutinizing our life and actions?
Gypsy Martindale