Sharing The Experience

"Walk A Mile in His Mocassins"
by Mary T. Lathrap in 1895

"Pray, don’t find fault with the man that limps,
Or stumbles along the road.
Unless you have worn the moccasins he wears,
Or stumbled beneath the same load.

There may be tears in his soles that hurt
Though hidden away from view.
The burden he bears placed on your back
May cause you to stumble and fall, too.

Don’t sneer at the man who is down today
Unless you have felt the same blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, unknown to you in the same way,
May cause you to stagger and fall, too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man that sins.
Or pelt him with words, or stone, or disdain.
Unless you are sure you have no sins of your own,
And it’s only wisdom and love that your heart contains.

For you know if the tempter’s voice
Should whisper as soft to you,
As it did to him when he went astray,
It might cause you to falter, too.

Just walk a mile in his moccasins
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse.
If just for one hour, you could find a way
To see through his eyes, instead of your own muse.

I believe  you’d be surprised to see
That you’ve been blind and narrow minded, even unkind.
There are people on reservations and in the ghettos
Who have so little hope, and too much worry on their minds.

Brother, there but for the grace of God go you and I.
Just for a moment, slip into his mind and traditions
And see the world through his spirit and eyes
Before you cast a stone or falsely judge his conditions.

Remember to walk a mile in his moccasins
And remember the lessons of humanity taught to you by your elders.
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave
In other people’s lives, our kindnesses and generosity.

Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins."

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬

         Have you ever felt like the odd man out?  Have you ever felt like an alien in this world we live in?  If so, it's not such a bad thing because this world is not our home.  Colossians 1:21 says "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."  As believers, we are God's chosen children and friends of His.  He cares more about out character and us being Christ-like, than our appearance, our status, our achievements, or anything about us that only has earthly value.  1 Samuel 16:7 says "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  No matter what our cross is to bear in this life, God calls and commands us in Joshua 1:9 to  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

        Have you ever wished secretly in your heart and mind that others could get just a small dose of what you're going through, just for a brief moment?   I have, whether that's wrong or right, but it's probably my sinful nature within me.  So I would never wish on anyone what we are going through now with the Covid-19 virus, but I am feeling a bit more comfortable being out and about and not being the only one with a mask on.  

      Although my mask is more than essential, it is life-giving and required.  Like others masks, it is protective, awkward, uncomfortable, a nuisance, and necessary in today's world.  I've heard from new mask wearers..it's hot, suffocating, ugly, messes up my hair and makeup, and ugh, I can't wait to take it off.  To all of this, I say "Yes, I know. Welcome to my every day world."

       Someone else knows, hears and understands all of your sufferings, His name is Jesus. "Your pain won’t last forever, but you will. “Whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has in store for us” Romans 8:18 . What is coming will make sense of what is happening now. Let God finish his work.  Is it possible that some explanation for suffering exists of which we know nothing at all? What if God’s answer to the question of suffering requires more megabytes than our puny minds have been given? And is it possible that the wonder of heaven will make the most difficult life a good bargain? This was Paul’s opinion. “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” 2 Corinthians 4:17 "[Lucado, Max. You'll Get Through This]

       "At some point we all stand at this intersection. Is God good when the outcome is not? During the famine as well as the feast? The definitive answer comes in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the only picture of God ever taken. Do you want to know heaven’s clearest answer to the question of suffering? Look at Jesus. He pressed his fingers into the sore of the leper. He felt the tears of the sinful woman who wept. He inclined his ear to the cry of the hungry. He wept at the death of a friend. He stopped his work to tend to the needs of a grieving mother. He doesn’t recoil, run, or retreat at the sight of pain. Just the opposite. He didn’t walk the earth in an insulated bubble or preach from an isolated, germfree, pain-free island. He took his own medicine. He played by his own rules. Trivial irritations of family life? Jesus felt them. Cruel accusations of jealous men? Jesus knew their sting. A seemingly senseless death? Just look at the cross. He exacts nothing from us that he did not experience himself. Why? Because he is good. God owes us no more explanation than this." [Lucado, Max. You'll Get Through This]