dailydatewithgod

Life has many textures and colors.  It really is quite marvelous and beautiful when we have the chance to stop and pay attention to it.  It is also easy to be dismayed by the various surfaces we encounter.  The faces of everything from people to events to buildings and billboards tell a story.  Some surfaces are built with words, others with gestures and expressions.  We learn quickly as children how to interpret different surfaces. It is how we know not to let ourselves get too close to a hot surface or how nice a cold surface feels on a warm day.  We read the surfaces of people on their faces and in their gestures and we read the surfaces that have signs and words to tell us where we are and where we are heading. However, the surfaces only tell us the first level of information.  To find out if what we think or feel about these surfaces is true we have to go beyond or beneath the surface.  It may not mean the surface lies but it does mean because we are only seeing something from one side, we are limited.  Some things or people we do not want to explore past the surface and it is all the information we need.  There are other times when it can be harmful to only focus on the surface.  It is easier on some level because we can just go with our first impression.  We readily embrace the idea of going past the surface when it comes to something we determine as positive but when it is defined as something potentially uncomfortable or unfamiliar, we shy away.  When it is the inherent biological protection against danger, it would be wise to stick with the surface.  When we are choosing to go with the surface alone because we perceive it as too difficult or fearful to look past the one layer, we are doing ourselves and the surface a disservice.  The truth is we can never know what truly lies beneath the surface of another person or experience but a little bit of curiosity seemed to have only killed cats.  And as much I hate the idea of cats dying, we could all do with more curiosity in our lives.  It might open our eyes and enhance our view of the world by looking under the surface of ourselves and our lives to discover more of what is present than we think or feel at the moment.