Beneath the Surface

Once upon a time there lived a Mayor of a small town, so small there was only one high school, one church, and one supermarket. They were positioned on a pristinely groomed plot of land, far from any major city, in a secluded corner where excitement was a foreign language. Nothing ever happened here and that was just how they liked it.
    Until the day she came to town.
    The new girl was unlike anyone this quaint town had ever seen. What with her wild hair dyed an array of unnatural colors, her attire mostly consisting in shades of black, and her use of eye-makeup which was enough to put a peacock to shame! She was rough and unrefined, absolutely everything they weren’t. At one time she must have been a pretty little girl, the Mayor found himself thinking but he disregarded that thought and figured, we'll probably see her doing community service soon.
    One afternoon, the Mayor was taking inventory of the town's treasury, a disappointing and somewhat alarming task that left him scratching at his balding head. The town had fallen into disarray over the past 100 years, leaving many homeless and hungry, but they hadn’t the money for repairs. Gulping, he allowed himself the luxury to wonder, what is a mayor to do?
    Just then, there came a knock at the door. Exasperated, he went to answer but was appalled and slightly taken aback to find the newcomer standing there on his doorstep!
    Gazing up at him through her multicolored bangs, she blinked false eyelashes and held up a gray, misshapen rock which was probably the ugliest thing he’d ever seen. “For you,” she pressed the rock into his palm, “for the treasury.” 
    The Mayor scoffed at the insignificant gift, looking at the dirty, crusty, unpolished rock which she probably just plucked from a stream! Then, meeting her eyes again, he sniffed, “and how do you expect this ugly thing to save my suffering town?”
    “Well, you see…” she began, but the Mayor held up a hand.
    “I don’t have time for this! Now kindly remove yourself from my doorstep!” And with that he shooed her off his property, colorful hair, ugly rock and all.
    As she was walking home, the Misfit bowed her head and ran a fingertip over the craggy surface of her rejected gift. Suddenly, sunlight winked on gold, and she smiled sadly at the little hinge which the Mayor had overlooked. Gently, she pried at it and the ugly rock slowly creaked opened.
    It was utterly hollow but far from empty, for the inside of the ugliest rock the Mayor had ever seen was encrusted with beautiful purple crystals; delicate spires of glass-like quarts that shimmered and glimmered in the late noon sun! Worth more than gold or jewels the priceless stone was the rarest gift of all and she thought with a sigh, if only he’d taken the time to look beneath the surface.
    Just then, there came an awed gasp beside her and she looked down into the dark, round eyes of a little, dirt-smeared beggar boy. “Thet sure is perty!” He whispered, peeking into her hands at the gem, then up at her face. “Jest like you.”
    Smiling sweetly at him the Misfit knelt down, wrapped the little boy’s fingers around the rock, and sighed, “thank you for actually seeing.”
Copyright 2011

People aren't always what they seem to be upon first glance; it's our own quirks and personal traits that make us as unique as rocks in a riverbed. Some of us may be a little rougher-looking than most, but inside, if you're willing to look beneath what’s on the surface, you’ll find qualities that shine as bright and rich as crystals!

Matthew 7:1-2
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged,
and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

J

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