We've been doing some painting around our house. My two college boys room together and you wouldn't believe how tough it can be for two guys to agree on a color. Of course, I had to veto the one color they both liked. Sorry, but black is out. It turns the room into a cave. Never mind that they would likely love a man-cave. I can live with contemporary, traditional or retro. But Neanderthal? Ugh.

In the end, Jordan wanted "Spun Gold." Andy thought the whole Gold-thing was a little too materialistic and wanted "Leather Saddle." But Jordan is a vegetarian and conscientiously objected to "Leather Saddle"--even though we assured him it wasn't really leather and that no animals were harmed in the making of this particular paint. Who knew picking colors could get so political?

Sometimes being the followers of Christ we're called to be involves allowing someone else to have their color when we really want our own. Philippians 2:4 instructs us to look out for another's color instead of our own. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." But the next verse takes it past colors and interests. It tells us where this kind of attitude originates: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5, NIV).

The more we become like Jesus, the more we take on his humility. Christ's is a humility that resulted in great sacrifice, a humility that led all the way to the cross.

Humbly looking to another's interests instead of ours. Not easy. But I imagine it's very much the color of the heart of Jesus.

Incidentally, you'll have to stop in sometime and see the guys’ new room. Two walls plain gold. Two walls plain brown. Same colors, we just changed the names.

Color me happy.

Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com