Is this the face of God?

Spending two weeks at Camp Barnabas challenged me and blessed me in many ways and I have many stories to share, but I will begin with this...a challenge I received from one of the doctors on site.

We as Americans place such value on external or physical beauty, yet know little of the depth of a person. This is not the Lords perspective.

"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

According to Mel Gibson in the making of The Passion, it was important to have an attractive Jesus in order to draw men to the film. But is that the most accurate demonstration of the man who actually walked the earth?

Reflect upon Isaiah 53: 2-4 (NASB)
"For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves exteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."

**Pictured with me is my friend Justin a beautiful teenage boy with a disorder called Neurofibromytosis (NF). His face is disfigured by benign tumors from his diagnosis. He is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. His heart is incredible and his laugh is contageous.

Clear Vision

Ok, another Camp Barnabas story, but this is brilliant. This picture was taken during my first week of camp. Alex pictured in the middle was a camper and he is blind. I acted as the nurse to his cabin and would round at night to give bedtime meds. The campers and counselors would often gather outside at a picinic table when I arrived. Peris (pictured on the right) was a volunteer counselor working with Alex. On one particular evening I had arrived at the cabin as Peris was leading Alex out. In guiding him she said, "watch out, Courtney is there, you'll need to go around." And his response (which is where the brilliance lies) was "Oh, you guys look a like." As Peris and I looked at one another with a smile we both said, "why do you think that?" "Oh, I guess you act alike or something" he responded. I could not help but say, "Alex you need to teach the world to see with your eyes."

So we must ask the question, does he have the disability or do we? It is often a question I must ask myself when I have the opportunity to work with blind children. I find myself wondering if my vision isn't a stumbling block to seeing the true hearts of those who surround me. Something to think on...