THE OUTWARD MAN IS THE SWINGING DOOR;
THE INNER MAN IS THE STILL HINGE.
- Meister Eckhart
For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated
by the joy of getting a glimpse into the inside of things.
I recall driving home one chilly winter night, my nose
pressed to the window, gazing at houses as we passed.
One was a regal white plantation home with stately
columns and a wide porch. We drove by it often, and
I always looked at it because in my 9-year-old eyes it
was grand and mysterious. On this particular night, the
house was dark except for one of the front windows. It
was a frame of amber light, glowing into the cold night
air, illuminated by a lamp just visible on the other side
of the glass. As we passed, I caught sight of an old man,
seated on his recliner, his head bowed forward over
the book in his hand. It was the most lovely picture of
warmth and security and I can see it in my mind’s eye
as vividly now as then. I remember the wonder of being
able to see inside that beautiful, old home. One tiny bit of
its mystery had been revealed to me as we brushed past;
and I marveled at the sliver of understanding it gave.
Over the years, I have marveled at the interior spaces
of many other things – the rattlesnake my brother killed
and we gleefully dissected; the Grand Canyon chiseled
out of the Plains as if by some giant hand; the delicate,
iridescent petals of an iris; the unassuming gray rock
that split open to reveal a cavity lined with glittering,
glass-like shards; the womb of a mother cupping the
tiny form of a seven-week old baby.
I have learned that, while I may smile with pleasure
at the outer trappings of things, I gasp in awe at the
secrets they hold inside. The outside may be ordinary
and plain; but the inside is complex and vivid. On the
inside is where the tiny pieces assemble to produce the
external whole.
As women, created in the image of God, our inner
person is far more marvelous than the outer shell of
flesh and bone. Important in their own way, the externals
are not most important; they are merely the house that
holds the secrets of heart and soul. Here is where true
beauty resides; where character is lodged; where hope
springs forth. In order to live in the abundance that
Jesus offers, we must move past the external wrappings
and give our attention to what lies inside.
This issue, the first in our quarterly schedule, is
devoted to helping you develop a strong inward life, one
that spills over into a meaningful outward experience.
You will read about matters that impact the deepest
places of a woman’s heart. You will be challenged to
slow down and engage meaningfully with those around
you. You will be reminded that we serve a God who sees
into our hearts and loves us as we seek to follow Him.
As you enjoy this issue, I pray that “out of the riches of
His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His
Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith.” (Eph. 3:16)
With love,
Rae Schrock
Editor in Chief
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