There was a small path that surrounded this 10 acre pond, so I jumped on my imaginary horse to see what lay hidden on the other side.  The morning was peaceful and quite with the only sounds that could be heard was the sounds of the gravel crunching under my feet.  I turn a corner to find a beautiful stone bridge crossing the inlet and a few feet beyond the bridge stood these abandoned piers sticking out of the water and waving their invisible hands at me. 

        I pause to look out over the sparkling face of the pool and my eyes begin to play tricks on me as the reflection of the trees join hands with the light breeze to play hopscotch upon the surface of the water.   As I look deeper into the mirror of the lake I begin to recite, Mirror, Mirror on the water, who’s the fairest of the photographers.  And just like in the movies, I knew it was not me.  But as I think about the moral of the fairy tale Snow White I realize that the quest for physical attractiveness at the expense of inner beauty is a dead end street. 

        When I look at these posts sticking out of the water I realize that I am only seeing a small fraction.  Most of the timber is driven into the muddy bottom of the lake and submerged beneath the surface of the waters.  Like an Iceberg we only see the tip and most is hidden from our view.  The same goes for the people we meet every day.  We look at their clothing, the car they drive, the color of their skin, the style of their hair and we make judgments about what kind of people they are.  We allow our prejudices and superficial opinions dictate to us the worth of an individual.  Just like a person who will judge a book by its cover; we deceive ourselves most of the time. 

        Today, let us search for the beauty that sometimes lies beneath the surface of things and people.  Don't be fooled by outward beauty invest the time needed to discover the real person.  Remember, all is not gold that glitters; there are many imitations and imposters all around us.  Don’t judge a tree by its bark; look at its fruit and check out its ability to produce a good shade.  Also, let us be more concerned with the content of our character than we are about our wearing the latest fashions.  Let us be people of honesty, kindness, love and cheerfulness.  Let’s search for the hidden treasures of this ordinary day.  Remember, true beauty is a choice to live an attractive life.

Something to think about:

• Helen Keller said it gives me a deep, comforting sense that “things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal.”

• This is the true greatness: to serve unnoticed and work unseen.

• Half the work that is done in this world is to make things appear what they are not.

• Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy.

• It takes a great deal of energy to maintain an appearance of greatness, more than the really great are able to spare.

• It is an awful hour when the first necessity of hiding anything comes. The whole life is different thenceforth. When there are questions to be feared and eyes to be avoided and subjects that must not be touched, then the bloom of life is gone.

• The handsomest flower is not usually the sweetest.

• We are experts at deceiving others and ourselves too!

• Character is like the foundation of a house—it is beneath the surface.

Thankful for ordinary blessings
Rickey Moore