Once upon a time there was a land where everyone lived in boxes. The boxes were very strong cubicles with a hole in the bottom so the people could walk around. If they bumped into each other that was ok, because the boxes protected them from any hurts. The people became known as “boxers.” As soon as a new little boxette was born, he became fitted with his own little box. The people spent their days fixing up their boxes to suit their own needs, making their own boxes as comfortable and elaborate as they could. Now the boxes kept the people safe, but they also kept out the sun and the beauty of the land around them. And Boxerville was a very beautiful land.
Then one day, the inevitable happened. One of the boxers accidentally fell off a cliff and his box was shattered. For the first time he looked up and saw the sun and the beautiful land. He could not believe his eyes. He could not believe how free he felt to move around. He quickly ran and told his wife about the beauty and freedom outside the box. Cautiously she removed her box. She squealed with delight. The sun was so warm and inviting and she saw things as she had never seen them before. She felt relatively safe as her husband was the only other one outside their box.
“Let’s keep this quiet,” she said. “It’s much safer that way.” But alas, a neighbor had heard her squeals of delight as she had exited her box, and he too shed his box. The word spread like wild fire to all the boxers in Boxerville and pretty soon the boxes were coming off right and left. Oh, there were a few who did not care to exit their boxes. After all, they had lived in them their whole lives and they were quite comfortable and satisfied there. But the others were soon rejoicing at their newly found freedom.
And then it happened! Molly Box bumped into Polly Box and without her protective box, Polly felt a new kind of pain. But before she could say “ouch,” the King of Boxerville showed up with some Neosporin and a hug, which was also a new experience…and was quite enjoyable!
Pretty soon everyone was bumping into everyone else. Without their protective boxes they felt very vulnerable. And so most of them crawled back into the safety of their boxes and lived protected, but unhappy lives ever after.
The few that remained outside of their boxes lived happily, enjoying the Son and the beauty around them. Oh sure, they bumped into each other every now and then, but it seemed the King was always there with His Neosporin and His hugs. After a while, they didn’t seem to bump into each other quite as much. They almost seemed to enjoy bumping into a friend now and then, and they found they did not need the Neosporin nearly as much. But they always enjoyed the King’s hugs. And they lived happily in the ever after.
I John 4: 12b, 18,19
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us…There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
How quickly do you retreat to your self protective boxes when relationships cause you pain?
What are you missing out on when you retreat to the safety of your box?
What gifts are you denying others when you do this?
Have you accepted God’s love for you?
ONCE UPON A TIME 