The Blog

Have you ever been in a place where you lied to get out of an uncomfortable situation? Maybe the word uncomfortable doesn't work well, how about an inconvenient situation? The other day I was in the mall and a salesperson approached me to tell me about the product she was selling. I made up some excuse about having to leave and then I made a reference that I might return later. I knew when I walked away I wouldn't be returning. I immediately thought to myself "you just lied to her". I've had time to think about it and I don't know what I could have said that would have been better. "Thank you, but I'm not interested". That sounds so mean spirited. I mean am I really not interested in what she has to say. No, should I respond "No, Thank you" and walk away, when in our heads were really saying "Don't bother me." Maybe, if we are going to be truly "honest", we should speak the truth.
"Excuse me sir, care to sign a petition?" "Don't bother me." That sounds horrible! I don't want to sound like an Ogre, even if it's what I am thinking. So what does that leave me with? Either I tell a lie, to save someone's feelings or I change the truth. I change my perspective of strangers who approach me on the street. Yes, I do have places to be and things to do; we all do. This world has created a rush rush lifestyle, where if we are not careful the "to do list" will become more important than relationships.
It is important that we not let our schedules hinder us from showing Christ to others, we must stop and talk to people, that's what Jesus did. He allowed himself to be interrupted. In Matthew, Jesus was teaching some people and a man came to him, because his daughter was sick. He knew that Jesus could save her. Jesus didn't finish what he was doing and then give his attention to the man, he immediately went with him. When Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, he didn't hesitate. Even though Jesus had a plan, or an itinerary, it didn't stop him from meeting the need that Bartimaeus had. In Luke 7:11-15 it says "Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. " She didn't even have to interrupt what Jesus was doing, he looked to her and saw what she needed. Jesus was so attentive to his surroundings that he saw the need and filled it without being asked. Maybe we need to re-evaluate what it means to be Christ like. I hear my pastor and the books I read calling me to witness, to be an example of Christ to a lost world. My general response is I don't know any "Unsaved" or Non-Christian". Of course I don't! I keep pushing people away. When I am in a hurry, when I cant be bothered…I am missing out on being the Christian I have been practicing to be. Is Jesus sending lost people my way and I am casting them aside? I cant see Jesus pushing the store clerk aside commenting, "Get out of my way, I have to be in Jerusalem in like twenty minutes!" I don't know any Non-Christians because I have made my life to busy to see them. My eyes are always affixed on my goals and destinations, rather than on those of Christ. Lord, open my eyes, help me to see the people you want in my life.