The Egg and the Sponge
One Sunday morning, a hard-boiled egg walked into a small Baptist church. It was cleverly disguised to look like a girl in a flowered dress with long, reddish-brown hair, and no one suspected the truth, least of all the egg itself. I know, for I was the egg.
Oh, I looked so perfect on the outside! Smooth and poised, and I would stay that way because my shell saw to that. And inside I was quite firm. I knew what I believed, and how a Christian should live. I was visiting my grandmother’s church with the purpose of worshiping God.
I eyed the front pew with distaste. Several teenagers were crowded into it, laughing and talking. Didn’t they know church isn’t merely a social gathering place? Why aren’t young people more committed to God? I thought, frustrated. They were certainly typical worldly, noisy teenagers. A boy with an earring, a girl with unnaturally orange-red hair, another girl wearing a shirt I wouldn’t be caught dead in, and several others. Of course they all sat together for more convenient flirting, I thought disdainfully. I’m glad I’m not like that!
The service began, and I joined in the singing and prayers. When it was time to greet each other, I stood there waiting. I was a visitor, so it was the church members’ duty to come to me. One of the first was the immodest girl from the front pew. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, was my thought, and my handshake was anything but hearty. But her smile was genuine. So was the voice that said, “Thank you for coming!”
During the sermon, I stole a glance at the teenagers again. No longer noisy, they were listening with rapt attention. Mr. Earring sat with bowed head, emotions playing on his young face. One girl glowed with joy. Another was nodding in understanding. They were like sponges, soaking in the life-giving words of truth that I let roll off my shell. Maybe I’m being a little too harsh, I admitted. Just because they don’t look like me doesn’t mean they are reprobates! Was that a hairline crack in my shell?
When the invitation was given, Mr. Earring went forward. Apparently a new Christian, he wanted to join the church. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw his earnestness. The crack was widening, and God’s love began to seep in. For a moment I saw the person He saw in that young man. Sure, he had a long way to go. But so do I. And it’s only God’s grace that allowed me to have a godly upbringing.
Later that week Granny and another lady from her church were talking. My ears caught something about the young people on the front row. “I think it’s so wonderful,” Granny was saying, “the way they all come to church together. Since none of them have Christian parents, they support each other.”
“Yes,” agreed Mrs. Jackson. “And they sit on the front row so that they will pay attention to the sermon and not get distracted.”
Now I was truly ashamed of my former thoughts. How could I judge them when I had no idea what they faced? I hadn’t even bothered to pray for them. My shell broke completely, and to my surprise I found out I wasn’t as hard inside as I thought. God was able to transform a hard-boiled egg into . . . a sponge.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much. I find it interesting and extremely touching, as I have come from both sides of that post. While I am from a Christian background, my parents are divorced, I went to public school for most of my education, my mother is a feminist, and I am naturally very social. I was also never really taught about modest dressing- making some people’s opinions of me when I was younger (and unfortuantely in some cases treatment of me) not the best. On the other hand, as someone who is not years older, and more reserved, I occasionally now find myself looking at people judgementally – something I have to constantly challenge myself not do. I look at the work God has done in me and am thankful for what He will continue to do in me and others. Thanks again.
This is amazing Jeannie!! :))
so convicting too!!! very amazing!!
i was that egg myself quite a few times in my life, but i am trying to be the sponge.
I had something similar happen to me just this Sunday..i myself think of myself as a sponge not that old egg..well this was my first time visiting this wonderful welcoming adorable church where i live, but i happen to see a girl with a skirt that was a bit too short in my mind, So there i stood screaming inside…”Oh How can you dress like that?” This is church! “””
Man oh man that egg was back, then later the egg cracked as i saw her worship…she actually happened to be on the worship team, and her message was so beautiful about HOW we should lay everything before the cross..and her voice so pure..I was like man oh man how can i like the other girl said be like those pharissees?
So very quick to judge someone by their cover..we should never judge a book by the cover!!
Because a sponge is far better than being an egg like i used to be!!
thank you for this convicting message! it made me cry!!
take care!
God Bless!!
p.s. i love your writing 🙂 keep on keeping on 🙂
Blessings & HUGS!
In His Love, Jane.
Very convicting. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for this, Jeannie! It is so true and so convicting. I needed that.
wha! Thank you for sharing that.
Blessings
That is so good!!! I really appreciate this article, being a hard boiled egg myself that has turned into a sponge. I can’t believe how hypocritical we can be sometimes….. We read about the pharisees and go “tsk, tsk….” and then go out arrayed in our royal robes of self-righteousness. Um, HELLO??? 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing, Jeannie… I’ve also struggled with self-righteousness, and it’s good to get frequent reminders. It’s a continuous work of grace to keep my eyes on Jesus and the cross!
Thanks! I was convicted by this as well.
Oh this touched my heart so much! Thank you for your honesty and willingness to be open yourself!
WOW!! So convicting! I cried when I read this. It’s sooooo easy for me to be judgmental of others. Thanks SO much for the post!
So, so good, Jeannie. I had a very similar experience when I was in my teens, and that one Sunday changed my life forever.
What a great article, very convicting. I have been that egg before….Thanks so much for sharing that with us!
Abigail
Thank you for sharing this Jeannie! What a wonderful message…