Hearts in High Def

I watch some television but have no interest in the technical details.  A few years ago, my husband suggested satellite television, which required a small dish attached to the back of our house.  Apparently, this was a great addition, and all was right in our TV world.  Until HIGH DEFINITION, which not only enhances the color but apparently REVEALS every flaw.  We will miraculously see the actors' wrinkles AND how orange the Tiger paw actually is on the football field.  Ok, whatever, was my response. My family seems to enjoy this miracle.



Luke at basketball game
back row

One slight problem.  The optimal spot for this miraculous high definition, or high def as we refer to it now, reveal-every-flaw equipment is away from the house, in the yard, next to the road on our corner lot, in perfect view from our deck, and this miraculous 4 foot dish rests on a 5 foot pole. We compromised because that's what married couples do.  We will enjoy every wrinkle, freckle, and bright color courtesy of an unsightly 5 foot pole IF I hide it with landscape. All of this for a close up of my son playing his trombone on ESPN.

2010 Easter
James, Luke, Hope

David helping with
the dish garden

And hide is what I did. Dozens of perennial flowers, several large shrubs, and a tree have made their home around this miraculous high def reveal-every-flaw dish.  I believed this hiding worked until someone commented on the miraculous high def reveal-every-flaw dish in the background of my Easter pictures. So, this high def dish garden grew bigger and fuller every year as I added more beauty and eventually vinyl fencing to hide the high def reveal-every-flaw dish from neighbors walking and admiring, friends looking out the window, or family eating on the deck. Meanwhile, the very instrument I'm hiding continues to reveal not only bright colors but flaws in High Def.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel  16:7 NKJ

No matter how much we try to hide our hearts, He not only sees them, He sees them in high def.  This popular verse brings both bad and good news.

I'll start with the bad news. We flower up our speech and spend hours on deeds that appear as beautiful as a spring garden, but He knows we don't actually love who we pretend to love, care about what we allegedly care about, and quite possibly have self serving, prideful motives. While others hear or see our kind words, they don't see our hearts. God hears the hurtful words we speak privately, and our evil thoughts are revealed in high def.

The outward appearance  goes beyond the physical.

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8 NLT

We see and hear what others want us to see and hear.  Public actions and words often show loving, selfless parents, faithful, genuine friends, and honest, trustworthy co-workers.  For the Lord does not see as man sees. He sees hearts, thoughts and true intentions, in high def.  

Now for the good news.  Maybe we unintentionally appear uncaring and selfish. Often, we reveal hurtful words and prideful actions, but we're truly sorry; in fact, our nights are sleepless with remorse.  God sees this even if others refuse. Our true intent is to be patient, kind, gentle, and loving, but our pride causes us to reveal the opposite for a season.  When we realize it, our hearts are broken and contrite.  He sees.

I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. Isaiah  57:15 NLT

Sometimes our actions and words reveal our hearts.  Sometimes they don't.  It's easy to hide what we don't want others to see and also easy to be deceived by what others don't want us to see. 

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT

Only God knows everything about us. He examines our hearts in high def yet desires to live within. When we allow Him to dwell within our hearts, He reveals His ways in us.  Good news and nothing to hide.  

Katy