Boxes

This post is a little different than most. I hope each of you will be able to interpret the message however it fits your present circumstances. I've been trying to understand my own boxes, and invite you all to take the journey as well.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison 

to them that are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)

 

Flowers grow in boxes.

 

So do mice.

    And rabbits.

       And even fish.

 

People do not.

 

But people like boxes.

 

Some people like a lot of boxes. They use their boxes to build tall buildings. Their tall buildings make them feel powerful.

 

Some people like boxes to put checkmarks in so they can feel accomplished.

 

Some people like to use boxes to organize, categorize, and make things neat and clean.

 

Some people like boxes because they can use them to create beautiful crafts and exciting ideas.

 

Some people like boxes with locks. They can lock precious things away in their boxes and keep them safe.

 

And some people like to put other people in boxes. They try to stuff in all the arms and legs and scarves. Crazy, isn’t it? I mean, most people aren’t box shaped.

 

Then there are some people who like big, strong boxes. They use their big, strong boxes to hide from all the things they are afraid of- like big scary monsters and pirates and mosquitoes.

But boxes were not made for people.

 

People were made to live outside boxes.

 

People were meant to share their boxes, not build tall towers.

 

Boxes should help people accomplish things, but people shouldn’t panic if they can’t put checks in all the boxes.

 

Boxes definitely should be used to organize, but you can’t organize a bouquet. Well, you could, but it might look a little funny.

 

Boxes are fantastic for creating new ideas, but you can create new things out of tin cans and juice cartons and an old sock, too.

 

And boxes should certainly be used to lock away precious things. But most precious things can’t grow if they’re locked away.

 

People don’t grow if they are in boxes either.

 

And people were never meant to hide inside big, strong boxes. It’s really hard to eat ice cream inside a box, even if you cut a hole to put your arm through. You can’t ride a merry go round. It can be hard to even talk to all the people standing outside that would love to be your friends.

 

But people like boxes, and they probably always will. Boxes are not all good, but they’re not all bad, either.

 

Do you have some boxes?

    Maybe they’re dusty, attic boxes.

    Maybe they’re shiny foil boxes.

    Maybe it’s just one- a carved, wooden coffee table box.

    Or maybe your boxes are the kind you put little checkmarks in.

 

Now that you’ve thought about it, do you really need your boxes? It could be you’ve decided to get rid of them. But how do you get rid of boxes?

 

Some boxes can be made into a campfire. You can even invite other people over to roast marshmallows.

 

Some boxes can be given away to someone else who has a dream and needs a box to make it come true. Artists are silly people who will even use ratty, ragged boxes to create something new!

 

Maybe you could use your boxes to build a flowerbed.

 

What’s the best thing about getting rid of boxes? It’s hard to choose! But getting rid of boxes makes it so you can look at other people, and not just your boxes.

 

Getting rid of your boxes makes it a lot easier to eat ice cream and ride on merry go rounds.

 

And once you get rid of your boxes you can finally talk to the people who would love to be your friends.

 

Remember, flowers grow in boxes.

 

So do mice and fish and rabbits.

 

People do not.