not pretty

I have seen it in myself. I've heard others express alarm or surprise when it's evident in others. It's this idea that those we hold to a higher standard (including ourselves) ought to remain atop a perceived position at all costs. While our culture acknowledges that everyone makes mistakes; grace and mercy are new every day; peace and restoration highly esteemed; human nature retains this lofty idea. But as long as we remain in this fallen world, it will churn us through cycles of defeat. On the other hand, it can also be a stark reminder that leads us to cry out to the Lord on behalf of ourselves and others. I hope the latter is my response. What's yours? 

A quote I read in a missionary biography has stuck with me for several years now. I resonated with it at the time I read the book on the life of Isobel Kuhn. She noticed something about herself and others who had that same expectation that they would or could be better as prepared and prayed-up gospel light carriers to foreign lands. They were, after all, held to a higher standard, sent off with promised support and an imbedded calling that enabled a departure from the comforts of home and familiarity.

"When you get to China, all the scum of your nature will rise to the top" 

Isobel's mission field happened to be China and Thailand, but any country or spot on the globe could be inserted there. Such a raw and stinging observation; a reflection of our human insufficiencies even among the cream of the crop. 

Whatever instigates that scum of your nature to rise to the top, (and I could list a bunch from past to present for me!) whoever a finger can be pointed to in blame; when the scum is visible, it's just not cool and it's not pretty. 

So what do you do? What's the takeaway? 

For me, it's got to be looking to God's Word. Here's a clear passage in Romans 15:

"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." 

Note: Understand the difference if we're talking illegal, immoral, or unethical acts committed without apology or accountability. That would be a completely different conversation.