But now is profitable….

I am reading in Philemon for a few days. I know the story: run away slave, Paul found him and sent him back to his owner with a plea. I hear the words he said and wonder what I would think if someone who has betrayed me came back to me with a letter from someone I highly respected. That would carry more weight than a simple, I am sorry please take me back. But the words Paul uses tears my heart in a totally different way. But now is profitable to you and me. I know much of my life has not been profitable to much of anyone. That hurts the heart. That also bring to the forefront what forgiveness is all about. If God thinks I can be profitable again by his forgiveness then people surely will see my value. That’s a God moment; people aren’t so quick to have a change of heart. I can put myself in Onesimus shoes. Standing there while the old master read the letter waiting for the other shoe to fall. Watching his owners eyes and body language and waiting to see what would happen. I think about that when people have shut me out, considered me useless to them and it has happened in the past few years. Hurt, frustration and betrayal make the heart want to stay hidden under a rock. But God says I am profitable. God says I am valuable. God says I am priceless.

The flowers, beautiful cone flowers are actually quite ugly until they bloom. I have been Trying to get a row to grow along side the lounge . It has been a challenge. And then, it seemed to happen overnight but I know it wasn’t quite that simple, I looked and the whole wall of the lounge and the wooden bunker is filled with bloom and beauty. The beauty was there before but hidden by undeveloped green stalks not quite ready to bloom. We are much like those green stalls. Given time we will be beautiful and profitable. Walking others through life never let us forget that we will all be profitable someday. And never forget forgiveness is a conduit through you and doesn’t stop with you.