HD Homilies- Deeper

You have probably heard the saying, “The only thing better than having a house at the beach is having friends with a house at the beach.”  There is a lot of truth in that statement.  The same principle applies to a house in the mountains.

Last week some friends called to say they had attended a charity auction and had bid on a cabin near West Jefferson.  Their bid was the highest offered, so they were inviting us to spend a few days with them in the mountains.  Since we keep a “go bag” by the front door, we quickly replied “Yes!” and headed west.

Even though we could still see the damage caused by Hurricane Helene that swept through the area last year, the scenery was breathtaking.  The weather was perfect, making for great hiking on some mountain trails and shopping in some small towns.  Throw in a few incredible meals and deep conversations and it was a week to remember.

While we were in the hills we also visited the Churches of the Frescoes.  There are two small Episcopal churches in Ashe County that have murals painted on the sanctuary walls.  The thing that makes these paintings different is that the paint is applied to the plaster while it is still wet.  The guide told us, “The paint is not ON the wall; it is IN the wall.”  Besides providing a deeper and richer tone to the colors, this technique ensures that the colors will not fade or discolor over the years.

The frescoes became a parable of faith for me.  It is easy to carry around a superficial relationship with Jesus that impresses others.  We can say, “Praise the Lord and pass the mashed potatoes,” and sound downright spiritual while still harboring a heart of hatred and selfishness.  Jesus addressed those he called “whitewashed tombs.”  He called them out for being “beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of bones and filth.”  (Matthew 23:27)

True followers of Jesus love the Lord “with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind and with all their strength.”  (Mark 12:30)  Faith is deeper than just saying the right things or even doing the right things.  Faith encompasses all that you are, to the core of your being.  It doesn’t fade.  It doesn’t fail.

-Dr. Jim Baldwin