Morning commute, sun is shining, a crisp breeze outside. I decided to take the long way to work. Left to myself, my prayer time wavered and I got lost in the thoughts of the upcoming day.
I turned up the road and got a blast of sunlight in my eyes. As I adjusted my visor, I noticed dried water spots on my windshield. The sun showed clearly through the glass, but exposed the remnants of the rain sprinkles from the previous night. I got a whisper that there was a lesson there.
I pondered what kind of metaphor the spots could be. Maybe long forgotten teardrops? Maybe the image of God encompassing the tears of the hurting. Maybe just wait for “the rest of the story” (thank you Paul Harvey for your brilliance).
Then the day began with a series of unfortunate disappointments, each one like a water spot shielding me from a clear mind and a loving heart. Those new spots were just compounding old dirt from previous battles. I needed a squeegee for my soul. I found the grime of old unforgiven wrongs on top of sheer apathy or ignorance that the wrongs had even occurred. I needed to forgive, but I was so angry and hurt inside, I couldn’t pray with an honest heart. I asked God to help me forgive because I just couldn’t. Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43-45
I prayed that they would be blessed. It’s all I had and that’s all I could do.
My encounters with them went much smoother later in the day. A guess a few less water spots.
Maybe there was more to the spots than just spots. Maybe the lesson was about “watermarks.”
Watermark – a faint design made in paper or currency during manufacture that is visible when held against the light and typically identifies the maker.
When dirt is scraped away (sometimes painfully), the watermarks can identify our Maker when held to the light.
When Peter tried to hide out in the courtyard the night Jesus was arrested,
“After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Matthew 26:73
Does our speech expose that we belong to Jesus? When held to the light, do we reflect the watermark of our Maker or are there just spots?
I pray that we could all be a true reflection of Jesus
And Blessed in Great Measure
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