People intrigue me. One of my favorite pastimes is to sit in a crowded mall and just people watch (if you haven't done it, try it sometime, trust me, better than cable):) I find that we are a peculiar race. Everyone is always headed somewhere, doing something,goals, plans, go go go, do,do,do. These various idiosyncrasies of individuals are what make this life interesting. Some are for the better and some not so much so. But in everything, in every situation I have found that there is more than meets the eye. There are also important lessons to be learned in everyday encounters. Here are a few of my personal observations:
I have noticed that most people are fairly polite. If I greet someone there is a good chance that possibly 90% will respond, however how many of us actually care about those responses? There is this guy who visits my work place and every time you ask him how he's doing he responds "average fair". Not one of your typical responses but honest no doubt. When someone asks "how's it going?" I have found that they don't actually listen to the response that follows. For instance how many times have you been at a check out counter and asked the cashier "how's it going?" and don't even hear the answer because you assume it's "good"? Right? Our minds are already processing the next thing on our agenda. I know in the past I have had to make myself pay attention to what people say because their answers can surprise us. I remember someone saying once that they 'had better days'. Come to find out that person was going through a tough time. I think we miss out on more opportunities to share Christ, to be an encouragement or just to make someone feel like they matter simply because we are not so much about the Father's business as much as our own.
People are not always the most polite or friendly, so sometimes sharing that Christ-like love is not quite so forthcoming. I sometimes more feel like sharing a piece of my mind but gotta save that for a rainy day :) For instance I sometimes wait on the most obnoxious people who think the world revolves around them and we are there to be their personal peons. I wonder what gives someone the right to think they could use swear words or be crass in a conversation and that simply by saying "please excuse my language" suddenly makes their arrogance and rudeness acceptable? Honestly? Just because you are supposed to be there to wait on someone does not give them the right to be inconsiderate or rude. There is a thing that still exists that is known as respect. Quite frankly I get pretty miffed when I have to listen to someone speak to me directly or about someone else using offensive language and I don't feel obligated to put up with it. How about using one of the other billion words in the English language instead of apologizing for the use of the foul ones? I truly believe that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (gotta wonder what some of these hearts are filled with). For the most part I will share with someone that their language is unacceptable. Being a Christian does not mean getting walked over. My Jesus never failed to speak up for what was right. If people were always allowed to be offensive because no one called them on it, is it fair to them or the people who have to listen to them? I've had people come back in and apologize for using that kind of language. As in any area if one doesn't see one's sin how can one fix it?
Or how about the way we can quote "never judge a book by its cover" yet have a hard time actually living by those standards day after day. I know that someones appearance, speech and even smell make strong first impressions. So much so in some cases that we never see beyond that first glance. I confess, I have done it and perhaps will mess up and do it again. But oh boy, what happens when we venture to dig deeper? Sometimes things get worse granted, but many times life surprises us. I met this woman once who I thought at first was homeless, she was dirty, her clothes were stained and her hair unkempt and stringy. She was older and I was ready to write her off but then this woman started talking to me and after getting over the act of obligatory listening I really began to hear what she was saying. She was working on her Master's degree and was so well read it blew me away. Her opinions and comments were insightful and intelligent and she was confident in what she knew. Obviously others had seen past her exterior because she was a very influential part of a new up and coming program of the Arts at her school. Stop! Holy Spirit check! Humbled me to know that I was almost disgusted by this woman because of what I 'assumed' (let's not delve into that one).I could have missed out on getting to know someone super special because of my shortsightedness. Golly am I glad that God does not write us off that way. He sees us, the inside, all that He put within us, dreams, vision, talents, all that He has planned for us.
What would happen if we started truly seeing people the way God sees us? I mean, what kind of revolution would we start if we actually started caring. Being the Church, displaying His heart. Do you think maybe we would stop being so self-absorbed and start changing lives? Maybe we would see revival in our churches, our schools, our workplaces, our communities, our towns, our counties...Here is the key, which I am daily trying to grasp, every encounter, every person, every situation is a chance for God to be God in us and through us...if we would let Him. I challenge myself...I challenge you to make a difference.
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