| "Layers"  I've never been micro-waved, but I am starting to imagine what it feels like as the intense heat begins to cook me from the inside out. The sweat is no longer dripping but running. My only thought is, "how can I get out of here any faster!" The current task I am performing is not only hot but tedious. I am attempting to remove the ridge cap from the roof of a house that is in need of a new one. The ridge cap is not actually one cap or shingle but rather layers. Layer, after layer, after layer. In order to rip up the rest of the roof, you first have to pop off the ridge camp one layer at a time with a scraper. Using leverage, you position the scraper under the first layer and pop up the nail. This reveals another layer and more nails. It does not go fast. But, once the ridge cap is off, it is much easier to move your scraper across the remaining rows of shingles at a faster pace. Once the shingles are off, then the tar paper underneath needs to be removed. Underneath the black tar paper is the original wood. In many places it looks brand new! Because it is so hot, I want to move faster in order to get the job done quicker. It doesn't always work that way. We humans know about layers. We have layers of skin, we wear layers of clothing and we live in multi- leveled homes. We like layers of cheese on our pizza and we create sundaes out of layers of ice cream. We also know, but often avoid, the layers of our emotions. Most of us have experienced events in our lives that we do not enjoy remembering. In this case we bury that negative emotion. In time when another incident occurs we bury that one too. Before too long we have so many layers that we can even forget what is causing us to act and feel like we do. Christ came so that the layers might be removed. Not instantaneously, but rather over time. At the bottom of all the layers we will find a "New Creation!" This is what the apostle Paul meant in 2nd Corinthians. With Christ we are a new creation. We discover that no matter what has happened to us, Christ has the power, patience, time and forgiveness to remove all the layers and get down to the original "wood." Today, allow Christ to begin to remove your "ridge cap." It may take a while but it will be well worth it. Sharing in Faith,
Rev. Craig W. Duke |
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