BOUND WRAPPED AND DELIVERED

iF I LOOK AT A BOOK YET FAIL TO READ ITS CONTENTS ALL I CAN SEE IS A BOOK.  iF I LOOK AT A PACKAGE AND FAIL TO OPEN IT ALL I CAN SEE IS A PACKAGE.

IF I TAKE THE BOOK OFF OF THE SHELF AND READ IT, I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS POEM IS ALL ABOUT. IF I TAKE THE PACKAGE AND SHAKE IT, YET NEVER OPEN IT, ALL I CAN HEAR IS THE NOISE. 

YET I CAN'T SEE WHAT'S IN IT.  I CAN'T DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE.  I CAN'T SEE ITS BEAUTY.  I CAN'T SEE ITS WORTH.  I CAN'T EVEN FEEL WHAT IT TRULY FEELS LIKE.  ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT LOOKS ALL SHOOK UP.

ITS BOUND UP WITH TAPE ON UGLY WRINKLED PAPER, TIED UP WITH STRING AND A CROOKED BOW, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T APPEAL TO ME.  ITS RATTELING SOUND ISNT PLEASANT AND IT LOOKS LIKE A WRECK.  SO I FEEL SORRY FOR IT AND TO BE POLITE I KEEP IT.

YET I NEVER OPEN IT. ALL I EXAMINE IS THE OUTSIDE.  I KNOW ITS COLOR ITS SIZE ITS FORM. I CAN LOOK AT THIS PACKAGE EVERYDAY AND KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PART I SEE.   YET IF I DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY INSIDE, THEN ALL I CAN SEE IS THAT IT LOOKS ALL BOUND UP.

IF THERE WERE A BEAUTIFUL GIFT IN IT, I WOULDN'T KNOW.  IF IT WERE A SHINING GEM FULL OF COLOR AND LIFE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU, EVEN IF I HELD ONTO THIS PACKAGE FOR YEARS.



PEOPLE ARE LIKE PACKAGES ALL WRAPPED UP, NOT ALWAYS AN OPENED BOOK, YET FULL OF DESIRE AND HOPE AND A NEED TO BE OPENED, A NEED TO BE RECEIVED.  NOT FOR WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR ACT LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT FOR WHO THEY TRULY ARE.

IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LOOK ONLY ON THE SURFACE,ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE, ONLY HOW THINGS APPEAR,HOW THEY SEEM, THEN THEY WILL MISS WHAT IS REALLY THERE, THEY WILL MISS WHO IS REALLY THERE AND THEY WILL MISJUDGE.

LETS TAKE THE TIME TO OPEN UP OUT HEARTS AND LOOK FOR THE TRUE GIFT GOD REALLY MADE EACH OF US TO BE.  LETS HELP EACH OTHER TO UNWRAP THE OUTER LAYER THAT LIFE'S PROBLEMS HAVE CONSUMED US WITH AND SEARCH FOR THE PRICELESS JEWEL THAT'S PERFECT IN GOD'S EYES, TOTALLY ACCEPTED BY THE BELOVED, NO STRINGS ATTACHED.