It looks like a tornado went through this room.

I’ve said this – despite having seen tornado damage and knowing the room looks nothing like it. At least there aren’t splintered pieces of wood and shreds of insulation everywhere. I guess I should be thankful.

It’s funny how our experiences can change the way we use or at least think of an expression. Several years ago, I had a head-on collision with a large pickup truck. It was on the edge of town, and the truck was turning so we weren’t going more than 30 miles per hour, but it was still a powerful impact. I saw it coming and did everything I could to avoid it but tried not to tense too much, knowing that can make the impact more jarring. My car was in bad shape…but it wrecked well. I was okay.

I was lying in bed that night, thankful to be there but sore with every move. And I said to Tim, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck!” Oh. Yeah. I had.

I’ve used that expression many times in my life. Tim and I both laughed and I realized I’d likely not use that expression again.

How has an experience changed your perspective?

Jesus didn’t exaggerate or speak in idioms, but he taught in parables. Why?

Read the following verses aloud.

The followers came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you use stories to teach the people?”

Jesus answered, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets. Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them. This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true:

‘You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn. For the minds of these people have become stubborn. They do not hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be
healed.’ Isaiah 6:9–10

But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them. Matthew 13:10-17

How will you “see with your eyes” today?

How will “hear with your ears”?