Are you aware that change isn’t always pleasant? Or fun? And that learning new things can make you feel like your brain is jello?
I said a few weeks ago that, things…they are a changing. Boy, I had no idea!
Now, I don’t necessarily believe that everything that happens to us is for a reason. Pre-ordained, if you will. This world is imperfect. Sometimes we just get sick, or get a flat tire…or lose a job. I know we can learn something from every occurrence if we will, but sometimes things just happen. Then…there are those other times.
A month ago I told you about Alana, my next door neighbor in the apartments I used to live in. God revealed a missed opportunity. He also showed me that I had judged Alana and found her now quite good enough to befriend. Although, I’ve been known to staunchly defend the nameless, faceless less fortunate…or just someone who isn’t like me. But give them a face, a name and maybe a few tattoos or a bandana, an unpleasant odor, or a vocabulary peppered with words that make me cringe and I tend to look away. Not quite meet their eyes. I might turn to get away from the smell.
Lately, God’s been talking to me about sharing Him. About what or who others see when they see me. I’d like to think they see Jesus when they look at me.
I recently read a book that posed a challenging question. What would happen if your heart got a day off and Jesus’ heart took its place…just for a day? None of your circumstances changed; it would still be you but with Jesus’ heart walking through your day. All of the seemingly insignificant words we say…would they still be said? Might I spend an hour (or more) playing cards on the computer instead of making better use of my time? Mmmmmm….it made me think.
I’m sick…I think I have bronchitis. But since I don’t have letters after my name...you know, like M.D., I need someone who does to write me a prescription. And since I am new to town, with no regular doctor or insurance for that matter…I find myself at the local emergency room. I have spent over 15 hours this week waiting for a doctor in the waiting area of said emergency room. I asked God why I have to do this. You know…kind of whined a bit.
People here are different than me. Most of them have a different skin color and at the very least, an accent when they talk. And I don't mean Texan. Some of them don’t even speak the same language. Others have come in from the cold for a warm place to rest. I can tell the guy next to me hasn’t cleaned up in a while. Soon someone will come wake him for a ride to one of the shelters. I heard Westside shelter is giving away some very nice clothes. At least one of them I didn’t recognize as homeless because he was dressed so nice. That was the one who is calmly convinced he’s got an intracranial brain bleed, and has very strong opinions of terrorists and alien life forms.
I’ve just come to try and convince someone to give me an antibiotic. I’ll even tell them exactly what kind…if they’ll listen. Somehow, I don’t see it happening exactly like that.
As I sat there, though for those 15 hours, I encountered drunks…in need. A belligerent young homeless man looking for a cigarette…in need. A sick gang member and his girlfriend…also, in need. There was a mother with her little boy who was asking if his daddy’s was gonna wake up. They were in need.
I look at the lady across the way who I think is homeless, and wonder what she would look like if her life circumstances had been different or what would I end up like if my circumstances were like hers?
As I sit at my desk at work, I think to myself, I sure wish I could work with Christians or I wish I could encounter at the coffee shop folks getting together with their Bibles over a cup. But Here is different from where I was before. I don’t know why or what God has planned but I can tell he’s about to wake me up. God didn’t intend for us to live in communes with only like-minded people around us. He told us to be a light to others. Matthew 5:14 & 16 says, “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. …. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
God also gave us Mark 16:15. GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.
Ok, so we don’t all have to be preachers. But we are supposed to let our lights shine. Who am I supposed to let see my light? Those folks in the E.R. or the people I work with every day.
God told me he’s doing a new work in my life. I was thinking something along the lines of a quaint little house with trees, a fence, a place for flowers and then maybe a fella who adores Him, then me. But instead, I think I better clean out my ears and put my glasses on so I don’t miss anything. I’m in school! Oh, I don’t doubt God has some wonderful things in store for me. He’s shared a few of them with me. But my purpose in life isn’t to keep God busy with my wish list. I have a job. I am an Illuminator. And so are you.
Heavenly Father, cause my ears to hear and my eyes to see your plan for me. At least the next step you want me to take. Lord, show me opportunities to share you and then the words and the courage to do so. Thank you Father for letting me see you actually doing a work in my life.
