Hubby and our son are headed over to “man camp” in just a few days. It’s an all-men’s Christian conference celebrating faith, family, and freedom. There will be all sorts of many things, such as an endurance “tough-mudder” type competition, Crowder is going to be singing, there will be all-day teaching sessions by great Christian pastors, etc. … It’s going to be epic!
The event is being held at the Gorge Amphitheater in central Washington. The Gorge Amphitheater is known for being an epic location for outdoor events with spectacular views overlooking the Columbia River.
I have never been to the Gorge Amphitheater before but the general area looks about like this.
Since the Gorge Amphitheater is a large-event venue it has the same security protocols as any football stadium or large arena – namely, no backpacks or bags. Clear see-through plastic bags are allowed, but only in specific sizes. Being an all-men’s event, the option has been given that men can just bring their snacks and sunscreen in a clear, plastic zip-lock bag if they want. Dudes would have no qualms toting around clear zip-lock bags.
Toting around a clear zip-lock bag all day seemed a hassle, so hubby ordered a clear bag with a shoulder strap and carrying handles, this way it will be easier to tote around all day.
Here you can see hubby’s clear bag containing his sunscreen and snacks.
The thought of everyone walking through Security and into the Gorge Amphitheater carrying clear see-through plastic bags brings to mind the verse:
“The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for … the LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7
When we carry clear plastic bags around everyone can see straight through! Everyone can see everything inside our bag.
As we go throughout life, we each carry a lot of stuff around in our heart. It might be joy we’re carrying around. It might be sadness we’re carrying around. It might be hurt and frustration and disappointment we’re carrying around. It might be bitterness we’re carrying around. It might be jealousy we’re carrying around. It might be anger we’re carrying around.
Nobody can see what we’re carrying around each day inside us, any more than anybody can see what someone is carrying around in their designer handbag or their backpack.
We present ourselves to the world as if we more-or-less “have it all together.” Some of us have a spectacular presentation to the world – such as a designer handbag. Others of us simply have a normal presentation to the world – rather like a plain, normal backpack.
But what are we carrying inside that “plain, normal backpack”? Nobody can tell.
The “designer handbag” looks spectacular … but what is inside?
God can see straight through to every single person’s heart. Just as if we were a clear plastic bag. God can see exactly what’s on our inside.
God can see the leftover “baggage” of all those hurts we’re struggling with … all jumbled up in our “clear plastic bag” so that there’s hardly any space leftover for joy in there, or anything else.
God can see the frustration and disappointment we’re working through.
God can see the bitterness that’s tucked away down in the bottom of our “clear plastic bag.”
God can see the anger. Plain as day … straight through the “clear plastic bag.”
God can also see the joy that’s inside.
God can see the gratitude that’s inside.
God can see the love and the peace … straight through the “clear plastic bag.”
As we each examine our own heart … what is God seeing, plain and obvious, through our “clear plastic bag” as we go throughout each day?
