Do you remember playing Monopoly?? We get arrogant and think that we are untouchable...
that we have arrived. Then it happens. We realize that we didn't have it all figured out.
At my job you will find quite a mix of folks. I have a new friend at work that occasionally I get to sit next to. He is from China. Usually when he sits near me he asks me questions. His English is not always easy to understand so I have to really pay attention in order to understand the questions. He probably feels the same way about my English. Hmmm...
So today he told me that he has almost read a whole newspaper in English. He has one article left with many phrases and words that he wanted clarification on. He pulled out a folded up worn-out piece of newspaper that had a lot of scribble and markings on it. He asked me many times after I finished talking with someone else, what I was talking about. It lead to him picking up that we were starting a new church. He asked what kind. He asked if I was a pastor. He asked about my education. He asked several questions. Even though our conversation was at times difficult to follow... my new friend taught me several things today that I felt led to share:
- Sometimes we mistreat people because of OUR lack of understanding. - This guy has taught himself English simply by listening, teaching himself to read, being mindful of others and asking questions. I am sure he has dealt with some rude folks in his day. He is an older gentleman but is not satisfied with just getting by. Some folks criticize people that don't speak their language but fail to realize that most of us can barely speak our own language correctly. Ya don't say!
- We should always humble ourselves. - There are multiple reasons to walk humbly... but the truth is we are all still learning. Why do we stop trying to grow? Do we think that we have arrived? I once heard a pastor share: "if we are not growing we will be quick to criticize those who are!" Powerful statement. Think about it. Are you growing? Or are you...???
- How are we communicating? -Several times I had to change the words I was sharing when I was trying to help answer my friends questions. I couldn't help but think... are we really mindful of how clearly or not so clearly we are communicating? Especially when it comes to sharing the message of hope... the gospel of Jesus Christ with people. These few verses from the apostle Paul really help expand on the thought that we have to share Jesus with more intentionality...
1 Corinthians 9:20-23 MSG - Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
Real talk... none of us have arrived. We are all still learning. Try to be more mindful of those around you. Listen to their stories. Share yours. Share Jesus.
