The Easter Bunny left me a box of chocolate covered cherries. How is it that she knew exactly how much I enjoy them? Isn’t it grand to sink your teeth into one and have all that juice run out into your mouth? One has to be careful lest it drip on one’s shirt. I noted that the box hasn’t changed size since I was a boy. But that is deceptive. Now they put them in plastic trays with fewer holes. The box looks like it can hold a dozen but it only holds ten. Actually that’s good because that’s two less to eat.
Most of marketing is packaging. One can put an excellent product in an unattractive package and go bankrupt, while some people put inferior objects in great packages and make a lot of money. This, of course, makes me wonder about how we package Christ. In recent years Christianity hasn’t looked very good. It has appeared to be bigoted and restrictive. Instead of proclaiming a message of freedom that we find so proclaimed in Galatians, we find Christianity wanting to restrict other’s rights. We just haven’t looked very appealing.
Then there is the package we see in the mirror. Repeatedly Paul makes references to our being in Christ and we being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Are we an attractive package? Do we inspire others by our care and love? Do we make people want what we have? We come in all manner of shapes, ages and colors. However, each of us no matter how wrinkled and shopworn can still be a great advertisement for the abundant life.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 14, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org