Reflections 7/19/2020: Ed and I are so proud of our giant sunflower plant. Especially since we started him as a wimpy little seed in a hopeful cup. Such potential in such smallness! (Check out the size of one leaf!) Just keeps climbing higher and higher into the sky! Had NO idea we were re-creating the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk! Got me thinking about that Cornish tale of a poverty-stricken family striking it rich though some very unlikely beans. As a kid I saw Jack as a hero who tricks an evil giant out of his magic harp and golden-egg-laying-goose. But as an adult I am rethinking that! Jack is clear cut thief! He busts into the giant’s world in the clouds, flips the giant’s wife against her own husband, then selfishly steals the giant’s most prized possessions! Jack even kills the giant in the end as the big oaf legitimately tries to retrieve his stolen goods! What kind of a lesson is that to a child actively forming his or her moral code? Thievery is bliss?Or how ‘bout cute little Ariel’s deal with the devil for human legs that puts her father and whole under-the-sea kingdom at dire risk? Selfish, head-strongness pays off? BUT, these flaws allow us to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly potential in all of us… which may render more valuable insights into our character development than the perfect hero always doing the perfect thing. Hmmm… kinda like our real life American history… heroes have their dark sides too. And may not have even recognized them as “dark” in the cultural context in which they lived. Jesus, You are called “The Light of the World.” Teach me how to allow Your Light to expose any darkness in my heart or mind that I don’t recognize as darkness. En-lightening is a progressive thing that takes time and intentionality. Be my Light in this process of change so I can harvest the best beans out of the beanstalks You plant in my life!