The Stones I Carry

Can you hear it, almost feel what it’s like? Can you smell the air filled with pride?  The stones, they hit the dirt with such a force the dust envelops them.  Stones can hurt, even kill if put into the hands of the angry.  They can be hurled with such force as to cause damage with anything they come in contact.  One little stone can wreak havoc.  And yet, many of them are thrown around as if they are nothing.  But they are something.  

The stone throwers, they are everywhere.  It seems so easy to identify them.  They are the ones with an agenda, looking to take out anyone who may not agree or threaten a sense of being right.  Stones are thrown with words or actions.  And the force behind them is so intense.  It’s easier to throw stones if everyone around throws stones too.  It feels therapeutic.  It certainly can feel justified.  “They” deserve it, right?  “They” aren’t doing the right thing or living the right way or saying the right words.  Just throw the stones already. 

Jesus was faced with this situation.  Those around likely held those stones so tightly in their hands they could feel the edges bore down into their skin.  They were justified.  It was the law, after all.  Everyone would agree.  This woman deserved it.  It was right and it would show others what was right.  And yet, Jesus didn’t hold a stone in his hand at all.  And when pushed for a response, he simply said to the crowd…you who have no sin cast the first stone.   (John 8)

That’s the problem with stone throwing.  It’s always directed at someone else without a mirror to reflect our own issues.  It’s much easier to point out what we don’t like in other people.  We can feel justified when “they” don’t get things “right”.  We can quickly forget we don’t have the right to do this.  And while we can certainly point out the stone throwers, I would dare say we may feel a stone in our own hand, just waiting for the right opportunity or the right person or the right cause.  

But have we forgotten?  Have we forgotten we are a sinner?  Have we forgotten we don’t have any right to even hold a stone much less throw it?  Maybe, just maybe, it helps if we start looking at ourselves, who we are, and how we love, rather than at others.  Maybe we start taking a deep dive inwards and checking ourselves according to the standards of Jesus rather than making others meet our standards.  Maybe we start to realize we simply need Jesus to forgive us and love us.  Maybe that’s where it starts, with a mirror and some time with Jesus.