Have you noticed in growing older . . . .
– that when persons smile they are beautiful or nearly so, and when frowning look ugly or nearly so? (Perception)
– that when persons take responsibility within their families they are more loving, or seem so? (Attitude)
– that when persons truly seek to solve problems, they are more gracious, or seem to be? (Maturity)
– that when persons are not judgmental, they leave evaluation of humanity to God, or seem to? (Acceptance)
– that when persons are generous, they have the better understanding of materialism, or seem to? (Giving)
– that when persons love children, they are more like the children of God, or seem to be? (Humane)
– that when persons are concerned about the safety of others, they are more insightful, or seem to be? (Aware)
– that when persons serve the needs of others, they are serving God’s creation, or seem to be? (Obedient)
– that when persons are honest, they are respectful of others or seem to be? (Dignified)
– that when persons have melody in their hearts for victorious life, they lift others or seem to? (Humorous)
– that when persons have respect for others, they tend to use acceptable language, or seem to? (Refined)
– that when persons try to fake their way through life, they are ignorant, or seem to be? (Hypocrites)
– that when persons who love truly are not put off by unloving persons they understand love, or seem to? (Genuine)
– that when persons who use their educations for life improvement they understand meaning, or seem to? (Wise)
– that when persons graciously give time to others, they understand relationships, or seem to? (Serving)
– that when persons are grouchy they tend to blame others for circumstances, or seem to? (Cowards)
– that when persons are thankful they are healthier than those who are not, or seem to be? (Balanced)
– that when persons look for reality in life they are freed from most prejudices, or seem to be? (Objective)
– that when persons look to do things in better ways, they do not fall to drudgery, or seem not to? (Creative)
– that when persons develop maturity, others seek them out for counsel, or seem to? (Friend)
– that when persons serve mankind to show appreciation to God, they are doing his will, or seem to be? (Faithful)
– that when persons cultivate wholesome habits, they understand human nature, or seem to? (Models)
– that when persons live graciously they live gently, so to invite others into their lives, or so it seems? (Humility)
– that when persons live according to the ethics of truth and nature, God blesses them for earth’s sojourn even when they do not acknowledge him, or so it seems? (Talents of Grace – common and divine)
A person may distort the ideals of either God or mankind. That may mislead us. It seems like we fake life.
Life is often faked in the context of nature. The person of faith can take similar direction in faking Christianity. Life wants to move in the direction of what may be identified as maturity in thought and conduct in life contexts. This is done in a growth pattern that is incremental, step by step so to make permanent by increasing practice in faithfulness. For the Christian the caterpillar (metamorphosed) becomes the butterfly. So it is that the same person is made into a different person. Mankind (mortal) can become God’s children (immortal). It is a redemptive story, with parables in nature. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020