Day 126, or May the 6th. We're all fine, really. Our thoughts today come from Nehemiah
chapter 2, verse 2. So the king asked me, Why does your face look so sad, when you are
not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was very much afraid.
Now the big picture surrounding this verse. Shortly after the returns to Israel led by
Zerubbabel and Ezra, Nehemiah arrived from Persia. His task was to build a secure wall
around Jerusalem. The king, who approved his mission, was probably the stepson of Queen
Esther, who has a Bible book named after her. She was a lady of great influence, and as
a Jew she would have been very supportive of such a project.
Nehemiah left a secure influential post as the king's wine taster. Tradition has it
that the king's father had been killed with poisoned wine, and therefore having someone
to taste his wine was a sensible precaution. Having regular contact with the king made
Nehemiah part of the establishment, and therefore less likely to leave to build a wall. God,
however, had different ideas.
And now today's action step.
When most of us are asked, How are you today? we respond with a smile, and, Fine, thank
you. After all, why would you tell anyone how you really felt? If you did that, there
is a distinct possibility that they would never inquire after your health again. When
Nehemiah was sad, he looked it. When the king inquired why he was looking so sad, he told
him. Pretty obvious that neither of them were Brits. Of course, pouring out your soul every
time anyone inquires about you is not the answer, but most of us go to the opposite
extreme. My wife is good at seeing through the veneer of a faint smile, but I am not.
I think our world would be a better place if there were more honesty, but don't overreact,
otherwise the art of conversation will die as we all counsel each other to death. However,
hiding behind personal veneers can become a way of life if we're not careful. Watch
that barrier today.