TERRE HAUTE —
Once upon a time, a couple bought a new house in a new neighborhood. They quickly moved in, happy to be living in a better house in a better area. Their first morning in their house, they ate breakfast in their newly decorated breakfast nook when they noticed their elderly neighbor hanging her laundry on the clothesline in her back yard.
“Look at her. I can’t believe she doesn’t have a dryer. Those clothes on the line are not going to make this neighborhood look any better. Besides, those clothes look really dirty. I’ll bet she doesn’t even know how to do laundry correctly. Or maybe she needs to buy better soap.” Her husband looked at their new neighbor, but remained silent.
A couple of days later, their neighbor was again hanging clothes in her back yard. “There she goes again,” said the wife. “I can’t believe her clothes are still so dirty. The poor woman was probably never taught the right way to wash clothes. What a pity.” Again, the husband silently looked out the window.
Early the next week, the couple was at their breakfast nook while their neighbor was again hanging out her laundry. “Well, there’s a surprise,” she said. “Look at how clean her clothes are. I wonder who taught her how to finally do her laundry.”
Her husband merely smiled and said, “Her laundry is just as clean as it always was. I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”
This reminds me of the story in 1st Samuel 16. God had told Samuel He no longer wanted Saul as king of Israel. So, he sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint a new king. When Samuel walked in Jesse’s house, he saw Jesse’s oldest son and he assumed this was the new king. But God said no. God also said no to 10 of Jesse’s other sons.
When the youngest of Jesse’s sons came in from tending sheep, the Lord told Samuel, “He is the one.” So Samuel anointed David, and from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.
David, fresh from the field, smelling of sheep, the youngest of 11 brothers, the most unlikely candidate, was to be the next king of Israel. Because God had told Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
“Sometimes we can be a lot like the young woman in the new house, thinking we know better than others. We can even be like Samuel and Jesse, thinking that we make better choices than God.”
I guess it’s important that we remember something. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. I pray that our windows see what God sees in others — not outward appearances — but the heart.
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, maybe reached at vrdspeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
The Joy Lady: I pray our windows see what God sees in others
- Religion
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Cross Lane Church accepting shoe donations
Terre Haute residents are invited to donate their shoes to help millions of peopleworldwide with a shoe drive at Cross Lane Community Church on June 2.
- Church briefs: May 18, 2013
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The Joy Lady: A good morning: everything that rises must converge
Last Monday, I had a good morning.
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Unity Presbyterian plans retirement open house
The congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church will stage a retirement celebration open house to honor the church’s pastor, Linda Jo Peters, from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 19 at 1207 E. Springhill Drive.
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Organist will be the featured guest at church
Organist Benjamin Kolodziej will be the featured guest at an organ recital at 4 p.m. on May 19 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 645 Poplar St.
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THE JOY LADY: Call your mom; tell her you love her, that you miss her
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution proclaiming “the second Sunday in May to be hereafter known as ‘Mother’s Day.’”
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 11, 2013
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Celebrate the women in your life with The Living Rosary
On Friday, May 10, join the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods for The Living Rosary and experience the grace and power many people have discovered by “praying by hand.”
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THE JOY LADY: When awe leaves us, we leave room for doubt
In any given gathering of grade-schoolers or even a gaggle of teenagers, in all likelihood, you will hear certain words over and over:
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
- RELIGION BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
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Good Friday service today at St. George Orthodox
St. George Orthodox Church at 1900 S. Fourth St., Terre Haute, will celebrate its Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today (May 3) and its Easter service at 9 p.m. Saturday. The Agape (Love) service will be conducted at noon on Sunday.
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Organist’s concert May 5
Organist Jonathan Rudy will be in concert performing works from the 1600’s to the present day at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St.
The concert is free and open to the public. -
THE JOY LADY: Christ is coming again. Are you ready for that?
An older couple had a grandfather clock that announced each hour with the ringing of chimes.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 27, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: Let us pray that our hearts be blessed by God
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my uncle and his family in Florida.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 20, 2013
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 13, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: You can learn a lot from a box of crayons
Denis Omar is a handsome third-grader in Ocotillo, Honduras. The last time I was in his home, his colored chalk drawings decorated the concrete block walls. His mother said when she got tired of one drawing, she’d wash the wall and have Denis draw another.
- RELIGION BRIEFS: April 13, 2013
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BBQ fundraiser April 13 at Allen Chapel
Historic Allen Chapel’s annual barbecue dinner fundraiser is Saturday, April 13, in the Chapel at Third and Crawford streets. Serving will be from noon to 6 p.m. with a full-line of dinner, sandwiches, sides and desserts available. Chef Stephen Miller, formerly owner of the Black Skillet and now a caterer in Cincinnati, will again prepare the barbecue.
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THE JOY LADY: Most complaints tend to be pretty selfish
Complainers never think they are in the wrong. How could they be when they know everyone else is so wrong?
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Church briefs: April 6, 2013
What's going on this week at area churches.
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THE JOY LADY: Our attendance in worship services encourages other worshippers
There are all kinds of church attendees. Some attend church services once or twice a month, some once or twice a year. Some attend only Sunday morning worship.
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African children’s choir to perform at Mount Pleasant
The Watoto Children’s Choir, traveling from Africa, began its five-month eastern U.S. tour in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on Oct. 6 and are continuing the tour through Terre Haute, Lebanon, Indianapolis, Peru, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville and Vevay, from April 16 to May 1. All performances are free and open to the public.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: March 30, 2013
- Religion briefs: March 30, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: Is it time to change your habits, attitudes?
I’m usually introduced to people as “the preacher’s wife.” No name, just “the preacher’s wife.” But I’d prefer being known by what I call my “I am” statements. For instance, I am a wife. I am a speaker, I am a writer. I am a mother, I am a mother-in-law, I am a grandmother.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: March 23, 2013
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Public invited to explore Guerin’s connection to nature
The Sisters of Providence invite the public to St. Mary-of-the-Woods on April 6 to explore Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her connection to nature.
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Cross Lane Church accepting shoe donations
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