The Better Package

27 He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it. –Proverbs 11:27

It’s true. We really do find what we are looking for. The trouble is, we more often go after the enticingly wrapped package rather than the thing that lurks inside. We don’t intentionally search for evil, but when it comes covered in promises of prosperity, popularity and good times we don’t thoroughly examine the package before we accept it. Then again, if evil always looked like itself, who would want it?

It kind of reminds me of alcohol or cigarette advertisements. They always show beautiful, young people having a great time with good friends. They don’t show the old man dying of lung cancer. They don’t show the lonely alcoholic who has lost his family and his career and no longer sees a reason to give it up.
On the other hand, good things are wrapped in less enticing packages. We can usually tell exactly what’s in them, but they come in boxes that take a lot of hard work to open. Often the packages come with a price… of time, effort, thought. We have to use our gifts to open them… creativity, uniqueness. Many times they will spring open quite readily if we apply enough love.

Reaching out to make a friend of someone who is lonely… helping the single mother take care of her children… helping the elderly couple with upkeep on their home… mentoring troubled youths… volunteering in schools or hospitals – all of these take work, but reap rewards that last.

If we continue to go after the easily opened, prettily wrapped gifts we will continue to be dismayed by what’s inside. After all our experience with those deceptive packages, doesn’t it make sense to go after the sure things? Even if it takes more work?

Father,
We fool ourselves on so many levels. If we really thought about the long-range effects of many of our plans, we would be amazed at our stupidity. Help us to make better choices, even if they make us less popular. Amen.

Joys: Fire flies and introducing Cecelia to them; a great day off...loving the longer hours of daylight; family