Thinking Outside The Box

“An elderly Italian man living alone in New Jersey wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, since the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: “Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over.. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa.”

A few days later he received a letter from his son: “Dear Pop, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie.” At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son: “Dear Pop, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances”” (borrowed).

Sometimes you have to “think outside the box” even though it can be difficult. It’s easy to become prisoners to a way of thinking that prevents us from seeing a solution.  Many of the Jews of Jesus’ day had this problem.  They had a picture of the Messiah in their minds that neatly fit in their “box.”  But along comes Jesus who didn’t fit in the “box.”  What then?  Instead of redesigning their “box,” they rejected the very One sent to save them.  “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).

Don’t let your spiritual “boxes” keep you from thinking creatively.  The answer to your dilemma may lie beyond the fences you have carefully constructed.  Your borders may be blinding you from the truth God wants you to see.

 

God loves you!

Mike