Are you like me? Do you ask people questions not expecting an answer and when they actually reply with a lengthy answer, your foot starts to tap, and mind starts to wander?
I mean, it can be as simple as asking someone, “How are you today?” Expecting the normal, safe reply, “I am fine, how about you?” That is what we seem to expect and want when we ask ‘courtesy questions’. After all, we are just being polite, right? Yet there are those who will answer with a life story and this is, for the most part, more than asked for or needed. Or is it?
I had an experience the other day that made me think about it. There is a man that I know and to be perfectly honest have tried to avoid. He does not even need a polite invitation to tell you everything that is going on in his life. On this particular day, we met, and I knew what was going to happen. In my mind I had already worked up a scenario. He would start into a long conversation and I would pretend my phone rang and just had to answer it.
So, as he approached, I waved a friendly hand and even asked the obligatory question, “Hey, how you doin?” putting my hand upon his shoulder. With his normal good cheer, he answered, “I am doing fine as can be today….” And then began to explain why everything wasn’t fine and why his life was in the tank. In my mind I could see me grabbing my phone and doing exactly as planned. Acting out the emergency phone call. But instead I found myself actually listening, maybe for the first time, to what he was saying. So many times, I had stopped listening after the first polite ‘hello’s’ but as I listened, I heard the heart of another human being just wanting someone to respond and not have their eyes go blank with plans of escape. I realized that I have probably missed a hundred conversations like this, just because I believed my life and my time was more important than someone else’s.
This experience led me to think, really think, what if Jesus had this same reaction to me. What if, when I speak my mumbled prayers, Jesus just said, “Hang on a minute, I have an important phone call to take.” Or “I don’t have time right now. Can’t you tell me what you need in 10 words or less. After all I have a whole world of people asking for stuff all the time. Can’t you see I am busy?”
That led to an even stranger and scarier thought. What if Jesus would have said, “I don’t think I want to die for these stiff-necked people! They are too blind, busy or filled with worldly cares to worry about anyone but themselves. I have more important things to do!” I know that this is a stretch just coming out of a conversation with a lonely man. But think about it, Jesus said this: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 26-28) Jesus did not beat around the bush, we are to consider others instead of ourselves, even to the point of death. It kind of makes you think, maybe I need to take another look at my priorities! Well, at least for me it has. It is funny how the Holy Spirit works. Sometimes he is so subtle. Like a whisper that is barely heard but there are those times when he knows I need to be slapped up alongside the head, needing a true attitude adjustment.
So, what do you think? Have you experienced the same kind of thing I described? Do you have someone or many someone’s that you would rather avoid or look beyond? Maybe this text will give it a little more perspective, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2: 3-5)
Each of us has a story to tell and a time we should speak but also a time we should listen even if our fast-moving life wants us to squeeze others out. I don’t know if I have truly learned this lesson myself, but I know that when I take the time to look to Jesus, I see others in a whole new light and their stories change me in ways I never thought possible.
Blessings and Happy Sabbath,
John
8/2/19
