Hard Shells

Things That Went Right Today:

1) LOVED my first toastmasters meeting. SO much fun.
2) Shower tile almost done!
3) Found a great couch to 5K app for my iphone.


A popcorn kernel...hard, tasteless, nearly impossible to chew. Could chip a tooth. Not an ideal snack. But apply a little heat and a miracle happens. It pops into a light fluffy morsel bearing little resemblance to it's former state.  Popcorn is one of the most versatile and popular treats around actually. Standing alone it's a low calorie healthy food, but a little butter and salt make it even more delish. Not to mention carmel corn and kettle corn and cheese topped popcorn. Tasty for sure. I wonder who was the first person to look at a tiny little seemingly impenetrable kernel of corn and think..."hey maybe I could heat this up and see what happens?" I'm guessing it happened by accident long ago. How fortunate for us all that strange discovery.

Coconut... at first glance not too appetizing. Tough bark-like exterior. Looks more like a fuzzy bowling ball than anything you would want to consume. And they are extremely difficult to crack. Even using knives it's a chore to get one of those crazy things open. Takes a special touch and the proper tools. The practiced hand of an expert though can open them right up easily to expose the soft tender center and sweet milk. Not everyone is a fan of coconut, but those of us who are think they are well worth the effort.

Oysters...prehistoric throwbacks. Seriously why would anyone ever have considered trying to eat one anyway? First you have to wrench them off of a rock deep in the ocean. They are not too attractive really all covered in barnacles and scaly dirty looking shells. Then you need to figure out how to pry them open only to discover that even the insides look rather unappealing. Slimy, briny, bizarre little creatures. But yet somehow in spite of their unbecoming appearances they are considered quite a delicacy and fetch a handsome price in fancy restaurants from coast to coast. And every now and then when you open one up you find an exquisite pearl formed by the friction of a grain of sand trapped inside the shell. Beauty embedded in the beast.

People too can come with hard shells. Or they develop them over time due to heartbreak or life experiences that cause them to build protective walls. People can at first glance seem unappealing or difficult to reach at their cores. Sometimes it takes persistence...being willing to go the distance and put forth the effort to break through to the person within. Sometimes it takes a little heat or the hard whack over the head that life can so often unexpectedly deliver to reveal who a person really is deep down. Even to themselves. But underneath the tough exterior if we are patient and love unconditionally, we can often discover hidden beauty we may otherwise have missed. The sweet tender heart that was afraid of being hurt. The bright warm personality hiding behind the mask, but wanting so desperately to come forth. Just needing a helping hand to find the courage to show itself. The roughest outsides can often contain the softest inner spirits if we take the time to coax them out by building trust and friendship and safety for others. Never judge a character at first glance. Never assume that first impressions are the only reality. Keep reaching for those who are difficult to reach. Loving others even when they don't deserve it. Expecting greatness of the unremarkable. And sometimes if you are really lucky you will find the pearls. I am thankful this day for the lessons I have learned about love from those who seemed unloveable. They have often proved to be the relationships that have taught me the most.