Sleight of Hand, Sleight of Heart

Proverbs 20:5-The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Two days ago I was meditating and Lord brought a person to mind that I haven’t communicated with in roughly 15 years. We were friends from childhood and spent time together at college. Rick is his name. Rick was fascinated with sleight of hand magic tricks and was quite good at them when we were in college. After poking around on the internet this week, I came to find that Rick had gone on to become one of the best sleight of hand magicians in the world, wining the world championships in 2006.

If you have watched someone perform sleight of hand magic, especially in person, it is amazing to say the least, in that things that are seemingly impossible are happening with such ease, and at such proximity to oneself, that wonder is the only possible response. I sat in my office watching youtube videos in wonder of my old friend Rick, and his ability to make the impossible, possible.

I still wondered why the Lord had brought Rick to mind. Sleight of hand was about to reveal sleight of heart.

Last night I went to watch the film The Book of Eli with a friend. He isn’t a magician, but in the realm of the heart and spirit, he reveals and conceals with the same efficiency and effectiveness. If sleight of heart were actually a measurable thing, like sleight of hand magic, well then he would be a world champion. Sleight of heart needs some defining.

In Sleight of hand magic, the basic premise is to get someone’s attention, even if for a moment fixated somewhere else, in order that in that split second, in an ordinary and relatively normal movement, an object may be manipulated for the purposes of harmless deception.

Sleight of heart is similar in the sense that our eyes often must be taken off of a particular thing, even if for a split second, in order that in that fraction of time, the heart of the truth may be revealed. Revelation is the currency of this trade.

A master in sleight of heart is someone who knows the tendency of human nature so acutely, has studied himself and his habits infinitely, has mastered the ability to retain focus in fractional timeframes, and never looses sight of the most important thing at any given moment. It is someone who is singular in they’re approach to life, knowing with certitude regardless of circumstance. For a master of sleight of heart to be a Christian, it means someone who functionally lives by grace the words of Deuteronomy 32:47-They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. To be a master, you must first be mastered. there is no other way.

When life is found, and one stops searching to find, but playing to understand, Laughter replaces despair and revelation replaces seeming ruination. For every moment then becomes an opportunity, regardless of circumstance, to fall into wonder, even when we wonder why.

Psalm 119:18-Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in your law.

You still watch Curious George? I do. And he's no monkey.