Today I am in my office, a rare occasion as I prefer to work at home. Upon entering the building I took note that a little more progress had been made on the building renovation, and there were two men touching up the walls on the first floor. Taking an elevator up, I also noted its new interior, and could not help but think of the many times the elevator had been out of service – for months at a time – because of some needed repair, delayed for the lack of some vital part. Many trying moments have been spent, waiting for that elevator and its “partner” elevator. Many steps have been taken to the fifth floor when only one elevator was operational. And now it looks like something out of an interior design magazine for office buildings.
As is my tendency, I wondered about the inner workings of the elevator and the infrastructure of the building. Have they, too, undergone a makeover? Or was the building’s facade the only object of the owner’s attention – and most likely the intention to make the building more attractive to prospective tenants.
The elevator, and this building, remind me of us — we — the people. All people of every kind and character — some of us more than others — are often more concerned about outward appearances. Many think their hair (that which comes out of one’s scalp or out of a bag, taken from a hook on a merchandise rack in a store), clothes, makeup, or even fragrance, will be the “hook” that catches them God-only-knows-what. Many establishments designate how one should dress (and not dress) to gain access to their businesses — to spend money on temporary pleasures that may end to long-term miseries. Some years ago, one Harris County Judge (Harrison Gregg) did not allow women to wear pants in "his" courtroom. Ha! There are churches with rules against women wearing pants (or even boots), but no rule about women wearing dresses and skirts o tight or so short that nothing is left to the imagination.
So, what is really important? If Samuel L. Jackson asks the question, it would be “what’s in your wallet?” For this illustration, the archaic definition of wallet, a bag for holding provisions or miscellaneous articles, is fitting, and analogous to heart and mind. This writer’s question, then, is What’s in your heart? Or, What’s in your mind?
What motivates us to clean up our exterior – the facade that we present to others, and perhaps forego and good scrubbing and reordering of our interiors – our hearts and minds – the stuff that is the essence of our very being? Are your heart and wallet filled with provisions for life’s journey, provisions that will equip you to do what is required of you?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8, NIV
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