No, I’m not referring to the song…
All to often I forget who I am. I remember my name and all, but I forget where I have come from and how I was made and crafted into who I am today. Sure, I understand how conception works and also know that both my father and mother were there when that happened. I’m talking more than that though.
The Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made…each and everyone of us. That is with the utmost caution to detail and impecable artistry. No one is a mistake…NO ONE!
While that makes me feel good and warm and fuzzy on the inside, I have to look at how I treat others as well. Do I look at others the same way God sees them? Absolutely not. Scripture says that man merely looks at the outside of a man, but God looks at the heart. We are bound by our finite minds and understanding and are easily deterred by the exterior of a man or simply at a whisper of his past.
So how can this change? Surely if we just trust everyone we would find ourselves robbed and beaten. Maybe we ask for increased wisdom and discernment for each situation.
This happened the other day…I am heading to the office to get some work done and stop to gas up the Jeep. I see this couple walking toward the same gas station. The lady walks in and the guy stands outside to smoke. Within about 2 minutes, the lady walks out and out of sight. The guy asks if he could borrow a dollar or two so he can get some smokes. Now, of course, I was in a HUGE hurry, but I stopped. Looked in his eyes and asked him “hey, man. Is there anything you need?” He reached in his pocket and grabbed a bunch of change (way more than needed for a pack of cigarettes that cost about $4). He mumbled about cigarettes and asked if I knew anyone needing their grass cut. I didn’t so I told him so. I paused for a minute and asked him what kind of smokes he preferred. “Marlboro Reds in a pack.” He jousts his hand out dropping a couple of coins. I waved away his gesture and repeated his request. (Being a former smoker, I was a bit sympathetic.) As I was buying the pack of smokes I just began praying that God would reveal more to me…
I return go back outside and hand the pack over and chat a minute or two with the guy. He was all tattooed with satanic stuff and looked like he was just coming off of a drug binge. My eyes lined back up with his and it was as if I could see in his very soul. He, of course, needed more than smokes or a lawn to cut. He was obviously tired of the life he had been living and was looking for more. I shook his hand. He was grateful. Then he explained that he and his girlfriend were recently displaced to Birmingham and needed some work to make it to the end of the week when he was starting a job. My heart broke. I’ve been there too many times. Way more than I want to admit. He quickly said thanks again and walked away to catch back up with his girlfriend (whom was still out of eyesight).
I began to pray for him (them) right there without caring about what tattoos were on his skin. Did it make me late to a nearly pointless meeting? Yes. the whole meeting I just sat there wondering about the couple and wondering more about their story and all. I hope I get to see them again.
God open my eyes to see Your people…
Prodigal Thinker 