Scratch & Dent!

Have you ever taken advantage of your local department store's "Scratch and Dent" sale?? One time, a number of years ago, when I was making my first big move from home, I became the proud recipient of a washer and dryer, both slightly marred in appearance, but with perfectly in-tact inners!! They functioned beautifully, though their appearance was a little less than appealling!

Just yesterday I had teased to my sister, as she accompanied me to my mammogram, that we were going to the anuual "Squish and Dent", a term I had "affectionately" attached to the procedure, and we both shared a laugh together in the car!
(Note for all those approaching their next exam - the saving feature of this unavoidable "delight" is to treat a friend to lunch afterwards!!! It gives your mind a chance to project forward, while other parts of the body are required to do the same!!!)

Anyways, as I considered the whole ordeal afterwards, my mind returned to the "Scratch & Dent" idea, and I had time to reflect further. We live in a "throw-away world" that passes such quick and devaluing judgement on imperfection! Anything - or sadly - anyone, who does not measure up 100% is considered part of this "Scratch & Dent" labeling, reduced in value, and considered less than standard. Let it be known, that apart from a minor scratch on the back of my washer (which no one saw since it faced the wall of my laundry room!) my machines functioned as well as any "perfect" machine would! My clothes went in dirty, and came out dry and clean! No problem. So, the exterior was a little marred ..... no big deal. Why had the store considered it so inferior??

But often we too excentuate the negative, looking with intensity on our weaknesses, when really, in the big picture, they are not as all-consuming as we make them out to be. Little irritations that we magnify out of proportion, that do not need to affect our effectiveness, but, unlike my washing machine that did not allow the external to creep in, we let those "defects" eat away at us until they cause internal turmoil, and corroding of our mind.

And then, my thoughts were abruptly interrupted, as faces of acquaintenances began to pass my mind's eye ... those who's preferences differ from mine .... who may express themselves in less than appealing ways, (according to my own opinion, which may be in question to begin with!) ... who's appearance may not be as "tidy" as our culture requires. If we were honest, deep down, we all feel very much a part of this "Scratch & Dent" world ... wounded hearts, broken dreams, less than perfect appearances.

For those of you who can stand with me, I offer you two three letter words .... "But God"

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

Aren't you glad that God's love isn't a surface attribute, that can be affected by our own surroundings, conditional on external things? Love is an intrinsic attribute of God that He offers us, even in the sight of our short-comings, satisfying in us the longing for perfect acceptance just the way we are! Complete with every scratch of imperfection, and dent of discouragment. God's love sees us as we are "in Him" - complete - "presented faultless before the throne" - with the imputed righteousness of Christ.

And not only do we know the "love" of God,...we know the "kindness" of God! What a pleasant thought. (But that's another day!)

Funny how reflections can arise from simple, every day procedures. Even less than endearing ones! And next time you receive that flyer in the mail advertising the lowest price ever due to imperfections, remember that Christ Jesus, the only PERFECT One, has already purchased you, and your account is paid in full!!! No returns!! And, by the way, by the time you get to His House, He won't need to face one side towards the wall!!!!