(Read Matthew 5)
It’s strange when some people have an influence on our lives, and we don’t even know them. For me, it was Wayne Dyer, an author and motivational speaker. While his perspectives didn’t substitute for the teachings of God, they complemented my commitment to leading a life centered around Christ. I listened to his tapes and read his books. One message in particular has stuck with me for at least 15 years.
“When you squeeze an orange, you’ll always get orange juice to come out. What comes out is what’s inside. The same logic applies to you: when someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, or says something unflattering or critical, and out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, tension, depression, or anxiety, that is what’s inside. If love and joy are what you want to give and receive, change your life by changing what’s inside.”
Whether you squeeze an orange a little or squeeze it hard, the same juice comes out. It will always be orange juice, never apple juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, or any other juice. Why? Because what’s inside is the only thing that can come out of an orange. Our lives apply to the same metaphor.
This bit of wisdom has always pointed me towards something Jesus preached during his sermon on the mount near the Sea of Galilee. He was teaching his disciples, surrounded by a very large crowd, what it should look like to be His follower and to serve as a member of God’s Kingdom. After the eight well-known blessings, Jesus proclaimed,
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
Matthew 5:13
There weren’t great resources to preserve meat at the time when the Gospels were written. Salt would be rubbed into meat to keep it from spoiling. But it was also useful for fertilizer and seasoning. Jesus knew that salt was not useful to itself. Its real value comes from its application to other things. Jesus wants all His followers to know that as “salt of the earth,” there is a responsibility to transform others in the fallen world, just as salt transforms food. He directs us to be true, authentic, and living examples of Himself, not only in some situations — but always.
Our backyard is on a small lake, and our dogs used to watch every single thing that flew, swam, or floated by. Day after day, a fun, energetic, and spunky woman would kayak past our dock. Some days, she’d wave; others, she would paddle over to pet our dogs and talk to us about anything and everything. We used to enjoy her crazy sense of humor, her midwestern accent, and the fantastic stories she would tell of her life and her military service.
Always Orange Juice
(J) LOVED our dogs! Our newfound friend disclosed to us that she is also a dog-sitter. We hadn’t known her for more than a few months before we asked her to dogsit for us. During our time away, we received texts, snap chats, and videos of her playing with the pups. We knew they were in good hands and felt so blessed to know her. Upon returning home, we noticed that our house was cleaner than when we left. What the heck, we thought.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
Being a “light” to the world is a job description of a Christian, but it also means we are to touch the lives of everyone around us. Light provides a way for us to see through the darkness.
Jesus spoke his message not to a nation, celebrities, or dignitaries but to a group of ordinary people; people not used to being compared to a “light” of any kind. God knows our potential. He knows how brightly we are capable of shining. Our faith is supposed to shine bright at the top of the hill for everyone to see. The light we radiate doesn’t show who we are but how we love. By our love, people know the larger family we belong to.
Like too many other veterans, our friend suffered from PTSD. We live near a large military base, and throughout the year, they do intense artillery drills. It gets loud. Sometimes, the roof shakes. For people with PTSD, this can be a significant trigger. When this happens, (J) would use cleaning as one of her cathartic outlets.
(J) grew up in a religious but not a Christ-centered home. “We looked better on the outside than we were in reality,” she told me. Despite attending mandatory church and Sunday school, she never felt connected to Jesus Christ as a child.
Throughout our interview, she told me some horrific events she experienced. “I was abused and raped twice. Once while serving in the Army in Saudi Arabia and one time here in the United States in front of my daughter.” She subjected herself to the assault to prevent her daughter from receiving the same fate. Sinking even lower, she said, “After this, I put a 9mm pistol in my mouth.”
Years later, (J) pulled a burning man out of a boat. She administered first aid, stopped the threat of the fire, and prevented further burning of his skin. The men she was with at the time did nothing, but she jumped into action.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24
Throughout our relationship, (J) shared with my wife and me that her childhood was a toxic mess. She suffers from digestive disorders and had to have extensive surgeries to insert two steel rods placed in her right arm. I once asked (J) what keeps her going. “I like to make people feel bigger,” she replied. “I feel I have a purpose in life to make people happy, to love, and to give. They can rely on me,” she added.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 5:13
Eventually, I could heal from all of this through a spiritual relationship with God.” She admitted that she “Learned there was someone out there who gave me purpose and meaning.”
Our interview was more than three years ago. Sadly, due to a variety of circumstances, (J) moved back to her home state of Michigan. We missed her and Facetimed her when we could all find the opportunity.
The Holy Spirit in her was evident in her larger-than-life heart. She loved everyone more than herself and loved her neighbors more, too. Her light shines brighter than the darkest shadows in this world. One time, some of her neighbor’s kids stopped by her home and boldly asked her if she had any food. She shared what she had and laughed and joked with them. Subsequently, they told her she was like, “A fun Aunt.”
If you have love inside, that’s all that can come out of you. Our friend, the dog-whisperer, had proven to be a true, giving, light, and life source. She endured more baggage and scars than most people will experience in 10 lifetimes. This devotional is an update of her original one from October 2020. We recently learned that (J) took her own life.
We have gained so much from knowing and loving her. I don’t think I’ve ever known someone who had endured such hardships without it impacting how you love others. Her faith and infectious smile are all I can think of while writing this last paragraph. Despite the darkness she lived in, she lit so many of our lives.
I’m encouraged that by way of her faith in Jesus Christ, she is now in God’s perfect kingdom, enjoying His eternal glow and blessings. She’s petting and playing with all the dogs who have crossed the bridge ahead of her. As sad as we are about her circumstances, we are better, closer to each other, and closer to God because of her example. Her sweet and salty life, while tragic and too short, lived up to Jesus’ calling.
(J) lost her saltiness for life but never for the Lord. We need to remember that words and actions have consequences. Be careful about what you say to others. We don’t know all the scars that people carry within them. Despite the tragedies in her life, (J) never tried to be anything less than “salt and light” and orange juice in this world.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35–39
Key Application:
- Recognize your purpose and the impact you can have on others. No matter your circumstances, strive to bring positive change, contribute to the well-being of others, and enhance the lives of those you interact with. (J) did this for us, and we will always be grateful.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.