Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, January 7, 2024
When we first saw the tall stacks of bright red bins in the store aisle this week, I thought they must be full of Christmas products being pulled from shelves, to make way for Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day displays.
But maybe not. When we were close enough to read the signs on the bins, they shouted in large red letters, “DEFECTIVE.” Since I was curious enough to wonder if all those bins really contained defective merchandise, but not enough of a snoop to peer into them, I will never know.
The word “DEFECTIVE” has lingered with me, though. I decided to check out its definition, and was surprised. The online dictionaries I consulted closely followed Merriam-Webster’s definition of, “having a defect or flaw; imperfect; faulty.”
I was surprised because the definition seemed mild. Maybe it’s those bright red capital letters, but being described as “defective” strikes me as harsher language than being “imperfect.”
Maybe it’s because I’m not thinking of merchandise now, but people. We (most of us . . . ) can agree that we are all imperfect human beings. (“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way . . .”*) We throw up our hands and explain, “Born that way – can’t help it.” But call me “defective” and I bristle as I feel my hackles rising. You’re telling me I’m lacking something necessary; I’m a loser, fit only for a bright red bin!
Yet here we are in January, considering whether or not to make New Year’s resolutions, and, if so, which ones. We, in other words, admit our imperfections and ponder how to do some flaw-fixing.
Scripture to the rescue! I am so glad I can open my Bible and read verses like these:
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isaiah 49:20 NKJV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
And there’s more, blessedly more, where those came from!
We serve a good and generous God who sees all our flaws, imperfections, and defects, and for some mystifying and glorious reason still loves us to death, even death on a cross.
As we step out into this brand-new week, and brand-new year, it is Emmanuel who walks with us, all the way Home.
*Isaiah 53:6