Something Special

One of my favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone is “The Eye of the Beholder” where a woman undergoes multiple surgeries to conform to societal pressure. She looked too different – too ugly to all the others. They could hardly bare to look at her. When the bandages are removed, it’s revealed that she is quite beautiful…just not according to their standards. Her nose is not full and snout-like. Her brows and lips are quite unlike the others’ curled and distorted ones. Eventually, she has to leave her home because her appearance is just too disturbing to others.

I thought about this episode recently after I listened to a friend. She has always looked different, and her life has been filled with hardship because of it. She’s taken the insults with courage. She’s prayed, and sought solace in God. She’s remained kind to others. Yet she finds late in her adult life that the words and snickers of others still strike at the core of her being, wounding her deeply.

Some of the most interesting people I’ve met in life are unconventional-looking people. People who aren’t perfectly groomed, whose faces wear haggard expressions of hard living, and whose clothes reflect individual style way over anybody else’s opinion. Reminds me of a homeless woman named Sue in Mississippi whose figure always reflected the lumps of the things she carried in pockets, sleeves or even her bra.

The hymn, “How Can We Name a Love” includes the words:
“Within our daily world, in every human face, Loves echoes sound and God is found hid in the common place.” (Brian Wren)

I think God must have fun hiding “in the common place.” Think about it. God became manifest in a baby who was born where animals dwelt…to parents who were not wealthy nor politically powerful. God still is found among the poor and those who society is quick to dismiss. We’ve got to look for God and not be fooled by outward appearances…I can just imagine God laughing when we discover Him…almost like a spiritual hide and go seek.

Psalm 139: 14-15 says, “I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.” (The Message)

From nothing into something. That says it and I think my friend is really something. Something beautiful. Because I see God in her time after time. In the bright gleam of her beautiful blue eyes, I’ve seen God. I think of those who hurl insults rather than experiencing her presence, and I think man. They’ve really missed something special.