Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, May 28, 2023
I was startled when I saw it, blinked a couple of times to clear my vision. But there it still was, in all its misspelled glory: “Kitchen Converions.”
How did this towel get past the eyes of the people involved in its production, especially those assigned to quality control? Was it because their minds automatically filled in the missing “s” so as to make sense of what the eyes saw; did they “see” the word “conversions”?
I can’t imagine someone noticing the misspelled word and saying, “Oh, well. Close enough. It’ll do. Maybe people won’t notice.”
I noticed and I didn’t buy the towel, but that was due to the fact that I was not in need of another kitchen towel. But I’m tempted to go back to the store to see if it’s still there, and buy it, just for the grin it gives me to see that the word “converions” needs a conversion!
And to remind me that we all do. Even the twelve friends that had been traveling many a mile with Jesus, listening to Him preach the good news, and listening to His life as he walked it out with them – they needed conversions. We see that in Scripture, often in the questions they asked Jesus, like this one:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1)
Jesus could have given a loud exaggerated sigh, rolled His eyes, and scolded them for their preoccupation with greatness and status and power, but His answer was kind yet clear. It must have stunned them:
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matthew 18:2-5)
It didn’t happen on the spot at that moment, but all of the twelve except Judas did humble themselves and were converted, and devoted the rest of their lives to preaching the gospel and calling others to repentance and conversion.
Many years ago I attended a memorial service for a man who had the last word at his service, as his chosen concluding song was played through the church’s sound system: Frank Sinatra singing, “I Did It My Way.” His wife was a Christ follower but he had resisted any call to conversion, all invitations to doing life God’s way. All memorial services are tinged with sadness, but many conclude with hope and anticipation of resurrection and reunion ahead. This one just ended sad.
I wonder, though, how often that song is playing, unnoticed by me, as the soundtrack of my life. How often do I insist on doing things my way rather than considering if God has another, better way for me? Am I valuing what He values, making the best choices, shining a good light on Him?
As I walk into this brand-new week, I want to humble myself and become as a little child, trusting in my Heavenly Father to give me the grit and grace and guidance to live life His way. I’m sure that will be music to His ears!