THE MAN IN THE CUP
Even more strange than a "lady in the water" is the man in my cup! Never fails. He's in there every morning. If I show, so does he. Look in your cup. You'll see him there, looking up, staring you in the face.
He questions, "What will you do today? Will it be good or bad? Will you make a difference or be made different?"
To be honest, my days are usually planned with good-willed activities, though, in practice, I often fail. I contribute to matters that I don't consider 'good'. I hurt feelings. I let people down. I choose for myself rather than for others. I look away when I shouldn't and don't when I should. I intend good, but deliver less than I intend. I'm sure you can relate. Everybody can.
And to the question, "Will you make a difference or be made different?" I can only respond, "Sometimes."
Sometimes I make a difference. I help a person in need. I lift a load. I make someone laugh. I console. I advise. I correct. I admonish. Sometimes I'm helped. I'm aided. I laugh. I am comforted. I am corrected. I'm improved, worsened, or changed. Every day is different. Some days I am different and at other times I'm a difference maker.
But, may I here point out something very central, very crucial, a mystery, a truth easily overlooked?
Popular philosophy concludes that circumstances dictate my challenges and options, but ultimately, and in largest part, the day's outcomes depend on me. While I understand that perspective, I disagree. There is another component.For me, how I behave, how I respond, what I say, how I invest today's hours is of course affected by circumstances, but neither determined by them nor solely left to me. There is another influencing factor; in fact, it is the chief determinant. The greatest force in my life is the man in the cup who bears my image...or more accurately... whose image I bear.
My "Likeness" is looking me in the eye every morning, knowing my thoughts, my intentions, my failings, my plans and limitations. Without fail, He's here, and I know I'll face Him again tomorrow. This is a powerful insight that produces monumental effects. Anyone who understands what I'm saying knows it is true. Because of Him, my actions, even my thoughts, are weighed in the knowledge that He'll is present at coffee, at lunch, and at bedtime.
Out of a desire to look him in the eye without a blink, without shame, without having done bad, brought disgrace, defamed or defrauded, I'm empowered to live differently. Knowing He is here generates a deep and powerful incentive to reflect what's honorable, to prefer a clear conscience, to serve selflessly, to live with gratitude. Beyond this, the knowledge that, even when I "deliver less than I intend", he'll still be here, intensifies my desire to please Him, to be like Him, and one day, to be with Him. His presence changes me, and though it's no secret it is a profound mystery.
So, bottoms up. Drink deeply of the cup that bears His image and receive a necessary filling for the day ahead of you.
"For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man..." --Romans 8:3
"But we all...seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image little by little..." --2 Corinthians 3:18
All material copyrighted by Stephen Meeks
--Gourmet Thoughts for A Gourmet Day ** Fresh Brewed Here Every Monday-- Millions of us begin our day with coffee. For some its a necessity; for others a simple luxury. Which ever your case, I want to share it with you occasionally--not to intrude, but, hopefully to enhance by offering a thought, an idea, an insight, or a story. After all, what better way to begin a gourmet day than with a gourmet thought and hot coffee?
