Once, there was a man who worked in a large nuclear facility, where his job was to micro inspect piping and tubing that carried contaminated liquid under extremely high pressure. These could be used only for short periods, and in the days before robots, this man had to examine by eye and camera ever surface interior and exterior of the pipe for any flaws. He was a master at his job, often seeing and catching the most minute things that others often overlooked. Everyday, 8 hrs. a day, 6 days a week he did this. Nothing would get by him on his watch, his job was extremely important. Unfortunately, he carried his job home with him. Nothing got by him there either. He was a master at pointing out flaws, and his family was certainly full of them. From keeping house to table manners, everything was subject to micro-inspection, down to the flaws in any character trait. After all, he was a master. It was his job to point out such things so they could be repaired, so that everything could be perfect, so that the machine could function perfectly on his watch. Even down to his diet, everything had to be perfect. A perfect balance of vegetable and protein, no cholesterol laden fats, artificial anything was allowed. Perfect portions, perfect times, everything had to be by the standards, there could be no flaws. Even at work, he told his friends about the flaws in their diets and how they should not be eating the things that they were because they would die early, cause damage to their hearts, or some other malady.
One day he had gone to work as usual. Today was his time to "walk the line," as they called it. To visually inspect the lines, and there was over a mile of them. Hard hat, and safety gear on, everything perfect - he set out on his inspection. Just a quarter of a mile into the inspection, something began not to feel right. He tried to make it to a call box for help, but didn't make it. If it were not for a friend who had seen him on a monitor, he would not have made it. He woke up in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. After some time, the doctor came in and told him that he was fortunate. He had a main artery that was clogged and a simple stint surgery was all that would be required. However, rather than be relieved, he was aghast. "How could this be," he asked the doctor. "My diet is perfect, everything is portioned, only eaten at certain times! he protested." "What about those fools that eat fried chicken, thinking it's healthy when its laden with chemicals and fats that will kill them?" The doctor smiled and replied, "It is your health about which you should be concerned, not theirs. Yes, they have their flaws, but you see, I'm a master physician. I see all the flaws and I know how to fix all of them - including yours. The man protested with an indignance, "I watch my diet sir! I exercise regularly, I do everything RIGHT and by the book!" The doctor replied, I would expect nothing less from a flaw finder such as yourself. However, where as you can only see the flaws on the surface, you cannot see the ones hidden within your own cells. Your own body's tendency to react to the things you eat, even by the book has caused your problem. It is not with others you should be looking for flaws, it is within your own self. It is not important what they do, it is important what you do.
"...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,"
Rom.3:22-24
Jim
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