“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” Hebrews 11:3a

Frames

Walk His Way Revisited

I’m one of those people who loves to hear other people’s stories. I live in constant amazement at the resilience God has placed in some, withstanding horrific pressures and turbulence.

When I hear of the women in Nepal who keep their families alive somehow, though their tiny huts are flattened by an earthquake, and the monsoon rains are upon them, and they live in dirt and poverty every day, and they have no support, no land, no schools, no churches, and where formerly there were paths that donkeys could travel to bring supplies, now those have disappeared in shaking earth and mudslides—and yet somehow they stay alive. I am left sitting in shock at the wealth and entitlement that frames my world.

And when I hear of a loving family whose child is diagnosed with cancer, and I see that the child now must live with pain that chains her to her bed, and I know her family now lives in a haze of trying to comfort their little one, of medical bills, of everything feeling out of place and slow and confined to this one event—I am left sitting in shock at the health and ease that frames my world.

Or when I consider a dark-skinned child that sits day after day looking out her bedroom window on a world of white children that play and laugh together, a world she is not a part of, a world that speaks a different language and eats different food and cares about different things—I am left sitting in shock at the acceptance and inclusion of fitting in that frames my world.

Everyone has been given a frame to view the world through. Some of us look through a frame of disappointment and hurt. Some of us look through a frame of pain, disability and isolation. Some of us look through a frame of poverty and hopelessness. Some look through the frame of shame and regret. Some look through the frame of privilege, wealth and opportunity. Some look through a frame of old age, or mental illness, or shyness, or self-love.

Our frames limit our vision, our “worldview.” A frame of wealth and privilege is as limiting in many ways as a frame of poverty and hopelessness, for the poor learn early to trust in the Lord with all their heart, and the rich may never learn it; the poor may live in hope of the Lord’s soon return, and the rich in their ease may hope He delays. I do know that the “haves” should be sharing with the “have nots,” and this is part of the lesson within the frame of privilege.

Forgive me if I have oversimplified the human condition. I can only scratch the surface of why God allows this, or—dare I say it?—ordains it. But this I know: a Day is coming where we will all be on equal footing, with no more frames. Sovereign God can make the world any way He wants, for His purposes and good pleasure. I am grateful to view the world through the frame of health, ease, and provision, but I pray I am ever mindful of other people’s frames, and do not find fault with them when they don’t see things the same way I do.

Lord, make us fruitful image-bearers in whatever our situation. Give us a heart for those whose world is framed differently than ours. Let us see as You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.