Recently I was invited to a bridal shower for one of my daughter's friends. It was a Saturday and I was excited to be going with my daughter. Mother's don't want to embarrass their daughters in front of their friends so I wanted to look my best. So did you ever get up out of bed and things go down hill from the moment your feet hit the floor? This was the day.
I had plenty of time. I wrapped the present. Steamed the dress I was going to wear -- a little clearance number I had saved for just such an occasion. A glance of the clock before I jumped into the shower assured me I had plenty of time. While in the shower, I was going over in my head what I still needed to do. What shoes would I wear? Sandals. Sandals! My toe nails! They were half painted, half not. So add to the to-do list: Paint toe nails. As soon as I got out of the shower, I got out my Sally Hansen's Leg make-up. A wonderful product. Only problem was, the tube was nearly empty. I knew I had purchased another tube so the frantic search was on for the new tube. Luckily I found it pretty quickly only to notice that the shade was medium--not light as my first tube. "How different can it be?", I thought to myself. Squeezing out a grape-sized amount into my hand and rubbing it onto my first leg, I realized it was a LOT different! But I kept going thinking maybe it would be alright.
So I dried my hair and headed to the kitchen for nail polish. (You know if you keep nail polish in the refrigerator, it lasts a lot longer!) I grabbed a paper towel and headed back into the bedroom to paint my toenails. Why I didn't stay in the kitchen where there was more light, I'll never know. It would prove itself to be a mistake later.
So time is just ticking away. I slapped on some makeup and headed for my tan colored dress. I held it up to my legs which were clearly a lovely shade of orange...that clashed horribly with my dress. There was no time to scrub off the orange, so it's time for Plan B. Black slacks. The bridal shower had a fiesta theme, so I found a top that would fit the occasion. And of course, it had to be steamed. Hurriedly, I filled up my little travel steamer, steamed the top, slapped on my clothes, grabbed the gift, kissed my husband and out the door I flew without a minute to spare.
Now every time I think I've got plenty of time and end up being late, I think about the ten virgins (or bridesmaids)...five wise, five foolish in Matthew 25. Because the groom and his entourage would normally arrive after dark, the bridesmaids were responsible for their own lamps and the oil to fill them. For whatever reason, the groom was late -- really late and the bridesmaids fell asleep. At midnight, a call came out that the groom had finally arrived. Can't you just see those young girls startled awake -- hair tousled, wiping away drool, hurriedly straightening their clothes and trying to regain their composure. So the five foolish bridesmaids say to the wise, "Hey, share some of your oil with us! Our lamps are going out!" "Nope...go buy it for yourselves, we don't want to run out." So the five foolish frantically run out for more oil. They return only to find that the wedding party has already arrived at the ceremony location and the door is bolted shut. Because they were late and not prepared, they were not allowed to enter. It was considered an insult to the families and they were shunned by the whole community.
This was a parable Jesus told his disciples the week of his death. It was in response to their questions about something Jesus had said earlier. "Do You see these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Jesus was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem which was to take place in 70 AD. But the disciples asked two questions, "When will this happen and what will be the sign of the end of the age?" First Jesus talks about the destruction of Jerusalem and then he speaks to the end of the world as we know it...a time that only God knows. Matt 24:36. He told the parable to teach that we should always be prepared.
Who knew as the year 2020 began that it would be so tumultuous? For the past many months, if you turn on the news, you hear just like a drum beat...hate, hate, hate, hate.
You should hate.
Don't you hate?
Why don't you hate?
You're stupid if you don't hate.
And if it's not hate, you should be afraid, be afraid, be very afraid.
It's the same mantra day after day, after day until you believe all the hatred and fear. It's just like the abused child or woman who's been told over and over that they're no good...worthless. It's not true, but if they hear it long enough and loud enough they believe it.
There are evil instigators who stoke the flame and then back out to let the mob take over just like when Jesus was tried and crucified. I hope that I wouldn't have been a part of the mob.
Many people have said these are signs of end times...especially with peace accords brokered with Israel and United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. If it is the end times then awesome! Lord come now! But you know what? It really doesn't matter! For this very day your soul may be required of you. We are not assured tomorrow. Every day is a gift. Do we really live it that way? How do we treat others? Think about how Jesus treated others. He saw souls...the sick, the hurting, the young, the old, the lost. He saw them where they were and treated them with compassion and grace so that they might be saved.
A wise young woman told me, "I wish people could see with spiritual eyes...it's not parties against parties or race against race but heaven against hell fighting for souls." I want to see people as Jesus saw them...with spiritual eyes. If we don't have our stuff together now, then we need to get that way.
Time is of the essence and I want to be ready.
So my daughter and I made it to the bridal shower. My feet were orange and my toe nails looked like they were painted by a three year old who couldn't color in the lines. We were four minutes fashionably late. Thank goodness they didn't lock us out.
Love till next time, Lanna
For your consideration: Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 24, Ephesians 6:10-18
