Mussel shell

"Never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance"*

**

A while back, when I was still in school, I was walking along a beach collecting shells contemplating friends and people in general. When I picked up an empty mussel shell, I was delighted by what I discovered. The outside was rough, rather boring, and slimy with seaweed. Yet, when I opened it, the inside was rippling with colour, smooth and glossy, delicate and beautiful. I was overcome with the idea that such beauty is created and yet out of sight for much of it's existence!

As I gingerly held the mussel shell in my hand I realised that previously I had always looked at mussel shells as boring and not worthy to be collected and treasured. And much to my own shame, that is how I often saw and treated people. Despite the saying 'don't judge a book by it's cover', I did and often still do. I see a person in the street, at the shops, in my class, at a conference, in church... and by their appearance or behaviour, their accent or language, I decide if I will befriend them or not.

But deep down I knew that people are valuable. EVERY person has something to contribute to society. I realised then and there, on that beach, that I wanted to look beyond what I could see, to the individual people behind.

What I found, and still do, is a wealth of richness! Someone I originally thought was quiet and dull became someone with an awesome sense of humour. Someone who appeared loud and obnoxious became a person seeking to be appreciated. Someone I would naturally have assumed would have nothing in common with me, became a close friend. I began to see that behind all our masks -however beautiful we dress them up or ugly we view them- there is a valuable individual, worthy of love and respect and dignity.

Only once you allow yourself to see beyond the outward appearance, will you see the beautiful person inside.

*James 2:1
** retrieved from http://www.123rf.com/photo_4366818_closeup-macro-shot-of-half-a-mussel-shell-taken-against-beachwood-as-a-backdrop--deep-purple-tones-m.html