Stone Age Jewelry
The story of Stone Age Jewelry from Kirsten’s perspective:
“Can I ask what you are writing?” The question came from the McDonald’s manager that had quietly walked up and was standing next to me in the parking lot.
This was the same manager that, just a few moments before, I had spoken to inside at the counter as I ordered two coffees. I ordered one black coffee and one with 8 creams brewed fresh. While I waited for the fresh coffee, we chatted. It was mostly pleasant small talk. Two coffees now in hand, I proceed to the smoking section (aka the parking lot) where my dear friend Paula is perched low on a curb, smoking her cigarette and etching something in the concrete.
I met Paula almost a decade ago. Our paths crossed for the first time at a Bible study at my church in Florida. On the way into the church we chatted, mostly about our common love for coffee. Little did I know at that time that a deep friendship would be formed over our mutual beverage of choice. That day, as I sat next to her, I was amazed by the way she navigated her well-worn bible as the woman teaching the study referenced various scriptures. Now, I don’t always analyze how the person next to me is finding their way through the bible, but there is a little more to this story. You see, Paula came to that bible study because just a few days prior I was with a group of women that go on outreach to the adult entertainment establishments (aka strip clubs) in our city. We go on a monthly basis to let the women that work there know that they are dearly loved by Jesus, and us too. That evening we left our contact information in one establishment and Paula called. A few days later she came to bible study. I specifically came to the study that day to meet Paula. Today she is one of my dearest friends.
Now, nearly 10 years later, Paula and I are hanging out in the mid-west, still drinking coffee. The discussion of the last 24 hours or so centered around a little storm brewing 1000 miles away back in Florida. A different group of women has started going on outreach to the same establishment Paula worked in. The reports we are hearing from our dear friends that work in that particular club is that these women are grabbing them by the arm, telling them that they are sinners that are going to hell and they are made to pray a sinner’s prayer. From the anger, fear and confusion I hear in the reports from our friends, It sounds like they are doing more harm than good.
I need to take this story out of the present and go back to Jesus’ day for just a moment. Let’s about another woman that was apparently was grabbed by the arm and basically told she was going to hell. The story is from the gospel of John in the bible.
“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.
Now, this next sentence may have a bit of sarcasm attached to it, but did you notice that she was caught in the very act? Do you suppose the Pharisees were on “outreach” to find sinners and save their souls? Not likely. It is clear that their concern was not for the woman, her redemption or even her welfare, but for themselves. They tried to used her to validate their position.
Jesus did not even enter that shame game. You see, He understood that the punishment of death by stoning would soon be nailed to the cross. That the moment the stone that sealed His tomb was rolled away, the penalty of death would be paid once and for all. This one exchange that seems so brief to us probably felt like eternity to the woman, because eternity was truly in the balance here. Jesus flipped the script.
Back to the McDonald’s parking lot and the manager’s question, “Can I ask what you are writing?”
“He who is without sin cast the first stone” Paula replied, “That’s what I’m writing”. “It’s called tagging”, Paula continued.
Suddenly I am an accomplice to tagging the McDonald’s parking lot. (In a later conversation, my fearless friend from the “313” told me she knew exactly what was going through this suburban, mid-western, don’t break the law, mind of mine) I had just bought my friend a coffee and handed it to her. I may have even mentioned to the manager that I had bought the second coffee for my friend out there smoking. No way I could pass the situation off as a kind gesture to a stranger and hop in my car and drive off, although the thought did cross my mind. (Paula, if you read this, I promise I would have come back to pick you up) My mind raced to the thoughts of who I would call to bail us out of jail. The manager, while friendly in conversation, did not appear to be overly nice. I stood there, frozen, watching the street for the cops to roll up, wondering what would happen next.
To my surprise, joy, glee, shock and amazement the manager said, “Ok then, well… I’m not going to throw any stones.” And she turned around and walked inside. Disappearing as quickly as she had appeared.
Paula continued. Her hand working hard, along with her arm and sometimes her shoulder to etch the words into the concrete. The women who reported hearing the words “you are going to hell” seemed to drive my Paula to complete the task. As she etched she commented under her breath, “Those women don’t have a heaven or a hell to send anyone to” and “I hope they walk up to the people in the grocery store, the men in the clubs and the people in the pews at church and say the same thing, otherwise they are no better than the Pharisees.” and “Telling people they are going to hell is not walking in love.”
As Paula was finished up her tag, the manager quietly came back out to the parking lot. I’m not going to lie, I looked around for the local cops again. No cops. But get this… the manager spoke, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure” said Paula.
“Why are you writing that?”
Paula shared a little of her story and about the storm brewing in Tampa. The anger she felt when she heard stories of women telling other women they are going to hell. The manager listened intently and wanted to make sure I was a friend and not part of the problem. Paula assured her that I indeed was a friend. Whew! The manager turned and walked inside.
No stones were cast that day in the McDonald’s parking lot. No one went to jail. Nobody got saved that day either as far as I know. But Paula was inspired. Inspired to get a stone for every woman working in the adult entertainment industry in our city and the next time any well-meaning, but in fact de-meaning, person walked up to them, grabbed their arm, and told them they were going to hell they could simply hand them a stone. Paula’s words “Anyone that knows their Bible will know exactly what that means.”
Outreach is a great thing. Letting someone know they are loved by Jesus and by you is a great thing. When Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” he showed compassion to everyone in that situation. Notice he didn’t shame the Pharisees either, he simply flipped the script and leveled the ground.
Paula came up with the idea of making stones out of concrete. I would love to hand every woman a stone. As I handed it to her I would say, “This stone is for you. It’s to remind you that the ground is always level at the feet of Jesus.” Wear it to remind yourself to:
Love yourself always and not if
AND
love others always and not if
BECAUSE
Jesus loves you ALWAYS and not IF.
The rest of the story:
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
The only one left to hear these beautiful words was the woman. The Pharisees walked away knowing they couldn’t throw a stone because they themselves had sin in their lives. So sad that they didn’t hear these words. “Go, and sin no more.” The only person that can speak these words to us is Jesus. He lived a sinless life, died a sinners death and defeated death so we can have a victorious life. We overcome because of his blood, his death and his resurrection.
Those that throw stones and those that have stones thrown at them are both in need of a savior. The ground is level. Breathe a deep sigh of relief, the local cops are not rolling up to put you in jail (and if they really are, Jesus still loves you).
And get this…
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Revelation 2:17
Jesus will someday give you a stone with the name He has given you written on it. I can’t help but think Jesus looked at everyone on earth with their heavenly name in his mind. Let the accusers walk away. Listen to what He says about you and to you. Wear this stone as a reminder that He that is without sin didn’t cast a stone, He died on a cross, and He loves you dearly. The ground is level whenever Jesus is around.
Stone Age Jewelry:
Each stone is individually made by Paula. It is unique and one of a kind. Ironically, these not for casting stones are cast from concrete. Wear it proudly or hang it somewhere as a reminder to love always and not if because you have been loved always and not if. For every stone that is purchased, we will donate a stone, along with the story, to a ministry that lovingly walks in to some of the darkest corners of our cities and lets women know that they are loved by Jesus and by you too!
Paula is an incredible artist and author. She is currently putting the final touches on a book entitled “The Devil’s Kettle”. You can follow her on Instagram @PaulaMarieJoseph and find her blog at one-voice.love .