Thinx 24: Layers

We all remember in the movie "Shrek" where Shrek and Donkey are talking about "layers". Shrek's focus is on the depths within his own heart that are only accessible by digging through various outer layers. Donkey, however, misses the point completely and starts raving on and on about parfait glasses.

God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.
-- Ecclesiastes 7:29 GNB

And yet there is some truth in the parfait glass concept.

Our church has just finished working through the "40 Days of Purpose" programme. The five basic purposes of Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, and Evangelism are like the parfait glass itself: core concepts which do not change.

We, by our choices, pour into that glass things which will change: the child who sees his purpose in terms of the primary school he attends, and focusses his attention on worshipping God in that context eventually has to graduate. The glass does not change but certainly the layers do. As we live out each phase of our lives, so the layers in the glass change.

God also spoons into the parfait glass things which will change. Some of those things may be creamy, or crunchy. Some may taste nice, some not so nice. Some may indeed taste awful. But there they are, in the glass, put there by the God who cares more about our character than our comfort. The glass doesn't change but the experiences do. These various layers may be impacted by our thoughts, words, and actions. Something sweet may be rendered sour through stupidity. Something bitter may be made sweet through selfless sacrifice. But we still have to eat it. That is, we still have to work our way through it -- growing all the while -- until that set of experiences is finished and another set is served.