.....blister

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15

When the heat of summer faded into the cool fall, it was time for me to begin my walking program. I was so enthusiastic as I laced my shoes and took off in the delightful early morning air. Trees were vibrant colors, some flowers were still blooming and all was well with the world! 

That was, unfortunately, until I began to experience some discomfort on one toe. Well, no matter, I pressed onward with my walk, enjoying the beauty of the day. Before long, it really hurt and I was very aware that something was wrong. Each step became painful and I started to hobble as I made the last turn for home. It seems the new walking shoes held my foot in a slightly different alignment, and the skin on my toe was being rubbed raw. 

I doctored my toe and the next morning I tried to protect it with a fat padding of cotton and a Band-Aid. I thought that would be plenty of protection and went on my way. This added protection did help numb the pain - I couldn't feel it quite as much, and there was no bleeding.  Day after day went by like this, and then one day I looked at that toe. The spot had become hard and callused where the blister had been, and I realized I hadn't felt anything for quite some time.

Have you ever done something wrong, and had a terrible guilty conscious about it? Something which really hurts you in your heart, and you feel awful about it? Perhaps telling a small lie - so as not to hurt a friend - or cheating on a test, or one of a hundred different things we can do which are not in God's will. Each time we do the same act over again, it becomes less painful, just as my blister had. 

As we repeat the wrong thought or action, we may look for secular or even peer support to protect us against the hurt in our heart which is saying, "this is WRONG". That may buffer our conscious, and lead us to totally callousness. When we feel nothing, and can repeatedly do wrong in God's eye, we have given ourselves what God calls a hardened heart. It is just like that callous on my toe - eventually you feel no regret or no sense of evil as you continue down you path of wrongdoing. 

It is a terrible thing when the heart becomes hardened, because then love can not penetrate it. We must all be on guard to listen to that little voice within us that tells us when we do something wrong. That voice is called The Holy Spirit, and He will help us stay out of the terrible rut of hard heartedness.

- marion smith