I have to apologise to my readers. On the way to Gloucester Humpty took me to task. He does not approve of my attitude to spots. I like spots. There is no dog so noble as the Dalmatian. As far as ground cover in the garden is concerned there is no plant to compete with the Pulmonaria. Of course some spots are unwelcome -- the sort that has a mother desperately worried whether they signify measles, chicken pox or something worse. In the present emergency it might help if the coronavirus showed itself by spots. But no such thing. It works in the darkness where no human eye can see it.
Not everybody agrees with me about spots. We have different tastes. When it comes to horses some will prefer an Appaloosa, others a Palomino. The former has spots; the latter is as near as you will get to an immaculate blond. In such matters our preference has nothing to do with being a Christian but it has everything to do with being human. And you can't be a Christian without first being a human.
'Can the leopard change his spots?' asked the prophet (Jeremiah 13.23) and we have to answer 'No.' There are characteristics about us that are given and can't be taken away. After Peter had encountered Jesus, he was recognisably the same person as he had always been. His eyes and hair were the same colour. He was impulsive as ever. He had leadership qualities. What changed after he became a disciple was the direction his life took. He set off on a different tack. He did not always do what he should but there was a distinct change of approach to life's opportunities and problems.
In the New Testament we find another aspect to spots. This takes us to a more serious level than mere preference. Spots are viewed as disagreeable. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul finds a remarkable analogy between on the one hand husband and wife and on the other Christ and the Church. Christ and husband both show their love and give of their best to the other party with the aim of eliminating 'spot or wrinkle, or any such thing'.
I suppose that in those days there were no Dalmatians or Pulmonarias, no Appaloosas or Palominos. But Peter, Paul and all the others had preferences. Of that we may be sure. But more important than their and our preferences is the question of where we stand before God. And that is a matter of being aware of blemishes, things that may make it hard for us to put our faith in God. Unless we are like Humpty, we can do something about that.
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