REFLECTIONS

Homogenized

Those old milk bottles were perfectly designed for the times. Its tall body tapered into a slender neck perfectly sized to contain the buttery rich cream when it rose to separate from the milk. Many times, I watched Mom dip out as much of it as she could into another container and then vigorously shake the bottle to blend any remaining curdles with the milk. After all of that, the remaining cream was only a small part of the bottle’s content, but each time we poured the milk a little residual cream poured with it.

And I remember the innovation when milk was offered in a new container and with a new label. “Homogenized” milk permanently mixed the cream with the milk into one rich tasting blend. But it meant the end of the era of the old milk bottle. But not really.

In many ways the era has continued. It has continued not in the manner we buy milk these days; rather the old milk bottle represents the way we tend to live our lives. Each Sunday we see the cream rise to the top. Christ becomes our focus. We dedicate a few hours toward learning more about him, worshiping him, and thanking him for his love and great sacrifice. But too often we leave the place of worship, and separate Jesus into another container while we carry on with our lives.

It’s as if we live in two worlds—a sacred one and the secular. But just as the cream is homogenized with the milk, “[Jesus said], I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  (Matthew 25:40)

As believers, Christ is inseparable from our lives. Each time we pass along a friendly smile, offer words of encouragement, or lend a helping hand, a little of Christ’s love is poured with it.

And the secular becomes sacred.

“You are the light of the world,”

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

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