In which there is more “looking” which is more than just “looking”

I was at Walgreens.

It was the end of a terrible day.

I got my stuff, checked out, went out to the car, and unlocked…

meh…

no, I didn’t unlock the door.

I had no keys.

And I guess I should add I only had one set of keys at the time.

And so the search began – every isle, each footstep covered, eyes focused on every detail between products, around, through. When you’re on a search you look a lot more intently than you normally would.

But no keys.

I was wondering if I’d tell you this part of the story now – or save it for the klinker at the end. I think I’ll share it now.

Unbeknownst to me (that’s a nice word isn’t it?)…

sorry – ruined the flow there…

anyway…

Unbenownst to me (smile) when I laid my keys down on the counter they didn’t stay there.

The guy in front of me grabbed his stuff, and just before scurrying out the door, reached for keys on the counter and rushed off.

Unbeknownst (smile) to him –  the keys he picked up – were mine.

So when it came time for me to do as he did – I had no keys to grab.

Which brings us back to the searching.

No keys in the store. None on the ground. Now came the peering into the windows of the car. Were they in the ignition? On the seats? Did they fall between the seats?

And it was getting dark, so the peering had to be that much more intense.

Finally I just had to break in through my sunroof, and then more looking – under the seats, in the trunk, everywhere.

Seeking

seeking hard,

and not finding.

Which strangely enough ties in with this…

“But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

The whole story above?

It really does tie in, Because of one word in the verse above.

It’s the one translated “peer”.

Yesterday was about looking into a mirror (the Gospel of Grace) – and seeing myself reflected in it so that might improve, and draw closer to Our Lord. (here)

Now today is a different kind of looking – “peering” into “the perfect law of freedom” – in order to be “blessed”

See, I told you it tied in.

The way I looked, and looked, and looked for my keys?

That’s what this word means in the Greek.

It looks like this

παρακύψας

and is pronounced like this (remember always the obligatory “Greek Chef” accent – and put the emphasis on the “u”)

parakufas

and remember the “r” isn’t our kind of “r” it’s the Greek “r” – you know – like a really soft “d”

and remember too, that looking at the Greek word above – and saying it a few times will make you feel smart – just like it always does for me.

Go ahead,

do it,

you know you want to.

Here, I’ll help:

παρακύψας

παρακύψας

παρακύψας

It means to to scrutinize, to pour over every detail, to analyze, and explore.

Just like I did for my keys. Just like the guy before me didn‘t do.

That’s how hard I need to look into, not the “word of truth”, from the previous verses, but this new thing, this “law of freedom”.

Whatever that is, I’m supposed to look really, really, really hard at – and then practice it – and I’ll be blessed. So what is this “law of freedom” I’m supposed to peer into?

That’s tomorrow.

Sorry.

But there is this today!

As I was sitting on my car, no keys, dejected, a little miffed – this red Mustang comes careening into the lot.

Out of the car bounces a college aged kid, curly hair, rosey cheeks.

“Sorry!” he says, “Are these yours?”

I was going to “peer” at him…

you know…

παρακύψας

But I just said thank you.

The End.

God Bless