Barbs

I wear contact lenses.

If you wear them, you know what it’s like to get a speck in your eye.  Annoying.

It bugs to no end: eyes water, nose runs, constant eye rubbing, continual blinking, mumbling to yourself, people asking “are you OK?”, life is miserable for a bit, …the list goes on.

In fact, a while back I had something in my eye and tried to simply deal with it – to get by without addressing it.  Needless to say, it was a long day.  Everyone noticed I was “bugged” and yet I pretended like everything was OK.

I read the verse below a few days ago and it struck a chord in me about the stuff – OK sin – I foolishly allow to remain unaddressed.

God, speaking to Israel through Moses:

“‘…if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.”

Numbers 33:55 (NIV)

[BTW, if you’re reading this and your name is Barb, no offense.  I’m sure you are an “apple” and not a speck or bad barb.]