I just finished re-reading the account of C.S. Lewis’ conversion that he titled “Surprised by Joy.”  Before he converted to Christianity, he began to notice “pointers” or signs along the way.  He wrote, “I think that all things, in their way, reflect heavenly truth…”  He noted that myth, fairy tales and epic stories of the Norse gods all had similar themes.  He began observing realities in human history, in nature and in literature that pointed him to certain undeniable truths.  His journey to Christ started to seem more like he was the responder than the one initiating the search…as if Someone was drawing him in and providing clues along the way.   As we study the teaching of Jesus we see His use of the everyday stuff to help us see eternal realities.  Maybe these things are more than mere illustrations; could they be pointers?  Is it possible that the everyday stuff is actually being used by God to bring us to Himself and remind us of His ways?  Jesus taught that His present reign would permeate culture and civilization like leaven in a lump of dough.  How many times has leaven been used in human history?  Jesus taught of the division of good fish from bad fish, of wheat from tares, of sheep and goats.  He said it will be that way at the end of the age.  How many times have we sorted good from bad, one to the garbage and another to our pleasure?  Jesus talked about trees, birds, flowers, oppressed widows, prodigal children, lost coins, sheep that went astray and a plethora of other reminders of “everyday stuff.”  What if all of these things are clues to something more?  Have you ever been invited to a wedding?  Were you asked to rsvp?  (R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply.") Of course etiquette means that you wouldn’t show up if you hadn’t made reservations in advance.  Depending on how fancy the reception hall may be, there may be someone at the door with a list of names.  If your name is not on the list (because you didn’t respond), you wouldn’t be allowed inside.  Does this seem unjust or rude?  We take it “as a matter of course” that things would be that way.  Could that seemingly mundane occurrence also be a pointer to something more?  Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 sure makes it seem that way.  Western wedding culture is slightly different than eastern wedding culture of the first century but the point of Jesus’ story could not be missed.  The everyday stuff He talked about begged the question, “Are you prepared to meet the Groom?”