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Anita Davies has the cleanest fish tank I've ever seen. It's never green or murky. The glass is spotless. The rocks at the bottom are neon bright. When I was teasing her about her fastidious habits, she wouldn't take the credit. "You have to thank Loricariidae." "Who?" "Loricariidae. It hides during the day and comes out at night to eat up all the stuff in the tank." Immediately I knew I had a keeper for olio (Pastors live their lives, not experiencing the moment, but looking for illustrations. It's a sickness.) Just think of how many things occur that bring quality and zest to our lives, but they're done in secret, underground, or while we sleep, when we're in the other room, or when the spotlight is off. Utility service, food at the restaurant, service at the auto dealership--they don't arrive by spontaneous generation. The church is like that too. Many members have no clue who has enabled them to attend a worship service and experience a meaningful connection with God in a comfortable and beautiful space. These faceless, nameless, unknowns who make it all happen for us are the Loricariidae of human life. Perhaps one reason Loricariidae come out at night is that they have faces that should stay in the dark. They fit Isaiah's description of the suffering servant-there's nothing in his physical appearance that attracts us to him. He serves. And no one even knows he's there. The dark is often depicted as the dungeon of darkness, but people like Loricariidae work in the dark to create lairs of light. Anonymity ain't bad for a servant. And being beautiful doesn't mean we're contributors. Think about it, and maybe that will become crystal clear-like Anita's fish tank. If you want to know more about Loricariidae, here's the url Anita suggests: http://www.plecos.com/art_robert_fenner.php (This devotional first appeared in the "Pastor's Corner" in the 4/16/04 olio. Learn more about olio here.)
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