Have you ever met someone and immediately fallen for them. Drawn to them with an intense proclivity and an almost gravitational pull that leaves you smitten. Yet you don’t know them deeply, so all that attracts you is surface level or superficial. Now you know you shouldn’t base everything on this feeling but it feels so good you just want to go with it.
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*Raises Hands* Yep, I’m GUILTY. I’m not the first and unfortunately, I won’t be the last. Hopefully, this post can spare us all from falling prey to our sometimes insidious emotions.
Insidious is an interesting word, the meaning includes intended to trap, deceitful or stealthily treacherous. Immediately I thought of a stealth aircraft, which is designed to go undetected. On occasions, more often than none, our emotions deceive us…”operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way, but actually with grave effect.” (DICTIONARY.COM) If we aren’t careful what appears to be harmless can lead us to dead ends or worst death to something valuable within our spirits.
A few weeks ago, while walking outside during my lunch break, there stood a tree – okay that’s normal, but what I saw next was weird. At the bottom of the tree, there were dead vines everywhere, these shells of life completely entangled its base and engrossed the ground below. My first thought was this looks gross. My second thought led to this post…I immediately saw a parallel between the exposed roots of a tree and people. What am I talking about…keep reading I’ll explain.
Trees are identified by what they produce and so are people. Who we are and what we represent displays in our fruit – which is what we produce -our achievements and our failures, at our best we accomplish greatness and at our worst the outcome can be pure evil. It’s great to consider accomplishments and gauge common interest, but you cannot rely on this alone. The results can be insubstantial and weak. Afterall achievements represent only a portion of who we are and what we’re capable of. For a more comprehensive evaluation simply observe them and listen to people, the true contents of their heart will spill out. Some will tell you what you want to hear, what they think you want to hear and innocently what they feel in that moment, but what they CONSISTENTLY SHOW AND SAY comes from their heart…this is what matters…this reveals their character.
WHAT CAN I DO⁉️⁉️⁉️
SLOW DOWN. Time supports us in the process of identifying a tree. If I plant an unlabeled seed only time reveals what it is as it yields its fruits. People are like unlabeled seeds you don’t know what you have until you see the fruit. Consider what you see! The fruit we produce can be deceptive, so take your time to discern the character and the motives of others behind all the appealing qualities you see. Naturally, if you listen and observe someone long enough, you will have what you need to determine how to handle them. Whether you’ll allow them to be a part of your life or whether you will respectfully decline their desire to be a part of yours.
DON’T RELY ON WHAT SOMEONE SAYS, BUT EXAMINE THEIR BEHAVIOR. Roots are the seat of all that we are capable of. They determine the growth, health, and lifespan of a tree. Our roots hold the essence of who we are, laying, as a foundation for, all that we are to be or to become. What you see, hear and sense from someone is a result of their roots. The roots don’t lie, so we must go beyond what we see to examine the unseen realm. This is where the contents of one’s heart and character is found.
COMPROMISE DON’T SETTLE. So you slowed down the pace and you see what you’re dealing with. Everyone has core values or ideals that hold priority in our lives. There are certain things I won’t do because of my religious convictions and to accept anything contrary I’d be settling. These values shouldn’t be bartered, once you determine someone doesn’t share your core values move on.
So sloooooow down, give everything time, and eventually you will learn what you need to. Once you see the roots you probably won’t desire the fruit! If you’ve found yourself caught in a situation you know isn’t healthy check out the proverb below, count the cost by making a pros and cons list! It’s not always easy to say no to your feelings, but I have confidence in God that His power is perfection in our weakness and that power rests in you! (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Additional Thoughts: As you ponder over the scripture remember men can be as seductive as women, both our lips can be slick as oil.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom; listen very closely to the way I see it. Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble. The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth. But it won’t be long before she’s gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart. She’s dancing down the primrose path to Death; she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her. She hasn’t a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she’s going. So, my friend, listen closely; don’t treat my words casually. Keep your distance from such a woman; absolutely stay out of her neighborhood. You don’t want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life among the hardhearted. Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you? Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you? You don’t want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones, Saying, “Oh, why didn’t I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? Why didn’t I listen to my mentors,or take my teachers seriously? My life is ruined! I haven’t one blessed thing to show for my life!”
Proverbs 5:1-14 The Message Bible
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