Onions, Hearts, and Souls
November 14th, 2007 Posted in GrowthI’m a photographer, of sorts, and enjoy thinking of creative pictures to take. One I’m considering taking is that of a close-up of an onion that’s had a number of its layers peeled away. I hope I don’t cry while I set up and take the photo!
It seems to me that the onion can be a metaphor for our heart or soul. Growing in Christ, for me, involves many things, including allowing Him to peel back various “layers” of who I am as a person. I’m amazed at how much about myself is concealed from myself!
God peels back a layer at a time with me through a variety of methods. Sometimes it’s something someone says. Other times it’s something that occurs to me while I’m talking to Him in what we call prayer. Sometimes it’s something I read in the Bible, or even some other book. Other times it’s an experience, often a painful one. Whatever the method, He peels back one layer after another and reveals to me something I’m seeing for the first time that He’s seen in me all the time.
Yes, and sometimes I want to cry! Ultimately, however, it’s an opportunity to change for the better and an opportunity to enjoy His forgiveness and gracious love afresh!
5 Responses to “Onions, Hearts, and Souls”
By Rachel on Nov 15, 2007
“Growing in Christ involves many things, allowing Him to peel back various layers of who I am.” Sometimes this hurts, seems unfair, and is just plain something I don’t want. I know it will happen, one way or another because God is persistant and patient. But somedays it seems harder than others. That is when I try to look back and count the good blessings that have come from the bad situations. I am looking forward to this Sunday’s sermon about people feeling God is unfair.
By Dave Claassen on Nov 15, 2007
Rachel,
I agree that most times we don’t like the means God uses to peel away layers of us to help us see and deal with what’s keeping us from being more like Him. I wonder, we cry when we peel an onion. Does God, in a sense, cry (that is to say, He’s not happy) with having to use painful means to peel our layers? Just a thought.
By marcia fox on Nov 15, 2007
I’m always impressed when the TV cook takes out the big knife and starts chopping onions, which seem to be required for any recipe which doesn’t contain chocolate. I don’t peel and chop onions by hand any more, because there are so many easier alternatives: hand-held chopper, food processor, blender, frozen, and now pre-chopped in the produce section. Maybe that’s why my cooking is mediocre, and why I don’t particularly enjoy the process because I’m taking the shortcuts which will get me out of the kitchen and back to my book. And maybe by always looking for the shortcut, in many areas of life in addition to cooking, I’m missing out on opportunities to learn more about myself and the ways I could be better. I’ll slow down and pay more attention to what He has to tell me.
. . . Something to think about!
By Dave Claassen on Nov 15, 2007
I think you’re right, Marcia. When Jesus bids us come and follow Him we can pretty well assume there will be few shortcuts in the journey. I think of the maps that show the Israelites going through the wilderness to their promised land. It took forty years and the path looks winding to me!
Dave
By Marcia on Nov 16, 2007
Back to the illustration of onion layers. See Dendrochronology in the Wickopedia for the analogy that growth can be identified by the appearance of tree rings. The easy years are unremarkable, but the times of drought and disease leave a mark and strengthen the tree.
As Rachel says, some days this is harder than others, and we begin to think God is unfair. As a parent and grandparent, I’ve learned that the decisions we make for and about our children may be perceived at the time to be painful and unfair, and God probably does cry in having to use painful means to peel our layers.
I look forward to all your sermons on the psalms. As a lover of poetry, this is my favorite book in the Bible and I try to read at least one psalm every day. It’s amazing (or is it??) how often the one I turn to is exactly what I needed for that day!