Riding the Bus of Our Life--a Muse

 

                                                    Inner Beauty vs. Outer Appearance

A young lady we'll call Laura, who'd known Lincoln and his wife for years, visited the White House. Though exceptionally sensible, warm-hearted, and refined, with a marvelous voice, she was very homely. When she left the room, Abe expressed his surprise to a friend that some good man had not been lucky enough to marry her.

 A few moments later, a volunteer officer very much respected by the President, and a bachelor, came in.  Abe asked him, What are you going to do when the war is over, Carl?  

 Seek my fortune, was the startled reply.

 There it is in that room, said Lincoln, meaning the homely woman.  A girlish laugh was heard at that moment.  No, you can't go in there --we have business to attend to first. But your fortune's in that room.

That evening there was a reception at the White House.  The officer was there.  Carl, listen, said Lincoln.  A lady they couldn't see because of the crowd, was singing in a voice of great beauty and sweetness. Carl would have moved forward but Lincoln held him back, his eyes twinkling with shrewd fun.  Wait a minute.  Don't look at her face yet, he said. 

Then Laura sang a ballad with such sentiment that the officer's eyes grew bleary.  Go ahead now Carl, said the President. She's as good and true as her song.

                                                        

When Samuel the prophet was sent to select a new king, they brought  him a tall, good-looking young man.  He felt this would be God's pick for sure, but God told him, “Don't look at his good looks or his tall stature… a man looks on the outer appearance but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

Boy, how many times have we made that mistake! 

Lincoln had learned to spot quality in people. It's not the outer appearance. Life teaches us--it's what's inside that counts.