During an educational presentation this past week for work, an illustration was used involving an iceberg. Everyone attending works in victim advocacy and we have had a wealth of instruction the past three weeks involving the evolution of laws, legal process with regard to victims, servicing victims including bias and ethics.
So with the iceberg, we were to name those things we visibly see when we encounter someone and those were listed above the water; things like hair color, eye color, race, height, weight, gender, clothing, etc. We then listed, below the water, things that we don’t see upon meeting; things like values, personality, beliefs, trauma, etc. Not only did we have a visual of each individual is so much more than meets the eye, but it was more for me.
We instinctively judge and assume based on appearance and what is different from us, even if we try really hard not to—we do to some extent…BUT the stuff that matters, all the qualities that really make up who someone is in their heart—are below the surface, naked to our eyes upon first contact.
What a powerful lesson in a million different ways! What an illustration in what trivial things we base our assumptions and judgments, what smallness!! I definitely don’t want to be like that! And what a powerful lesson in relationships and love…only when we foster a relationship and show love, will we we get to see someone’s heart, the true essence of who they are, the stuff below the surface. No wonder Jesus wants us to love, it’s where all the good stuff happens!!
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
180630
Marla Geiger 