Conversation with the Philosopher

As a youth director, ministry fills most of my time and it's one of the greatest rewards of the job, but when I get some time off, I like to read relax or watch a movie that takes me away from the daily grind and the emotional ride that ministry can take us on. Part of being called to ministry (which I remind you that each of us are) is that God is always speaking to us regardless of whether we are "on the clock." This past weekend I had some comp time to take, so I used it to head up to Philadelphia to see my fiance. Overall it was a great trip, but similar to my last experience outside of my bubble (Spit and Freddy), God put an opportunity in my path.

I noticed as we traveled around Philadelphia on public transportation that people like their own space, especially in the midst of people they don't know. Every train and bus that I rode on that weekend, I was looking for the open seat. As I looked down each car, I saw one person in every seat until the seats were "full" and I had to sit next to someone I didn't know. There is nothing terribly wrong with this picture except that we seem to have lost the sense of community and relationship that Christ has called us into. Society is a major factor in the way we interact with others. Technology has made communication and relationships terribly superficial, but we are just as responsible.

God drove this lesson in on my way home that night. When I arrived back in D.C., I was walking back to the parking garage where I parked my car when i passed a homeless man who was asking for money. I decided to give him some money, but I also chose to sit down and talk with him. Watching so many people sit alone on the bus and put their heads down as we walked past each other on the sidewalk, I was frustrated that we have gotten so far from even saying "hi" to someone that we don't know. I sat down and he said "you are talking to a smart man, an intoxicated man, but a smart man." Then he asked me a question I still don't have the answer to, "why did you sit down here?" I told him that I had watched a lot of people ignoring each other today and I believe we shouldn't be afraid of people, just because we don't know them. We are created for relationship and I wanted to have a conversation with him. He told me I was making an academic statement that I hadn't internalized. I told him that he was right, I haven't completely internalized that attitude but I try to. He eventually told me that I was not smarter than him and asked me not so kindly to leave. He thought I had a motive in speaking to him. It was strange to him that anyone would want to have a conversation with him just for the sake of conversation. Why does this matter?

I have been convicted about many of my faults and I believe as we draw closer to God, we begin to realize how many ways we have fallen short, but the Holy Spirit doesn't convict us of our sin so that we will feel guilty, he requires our response. He is opening our eyes and our hearts to see more of who He is. I haven't done all the math, but I am convinced that Jesus didn't know personally most of the people He ministered to. You could argue, since he is God and God knows all, that he knew everyone intimately, but the people he ministered to didn't know him.  The disciples and Paul didn't know most the people they ministered to either.

Ministry begins with relationship, but we fear new relationship and rarely seek it out. I am a fairly outgoing  person if you put me in a social context that is designed to meet new people (college, church, family gatherings, a new school, etc). Why is it so hard to create those situations on the train or in the grocery store. Do we fear that they won't understand us or do we fear that we might not understand them or when we are uncomfortable that we may have to respond to our understanding of their situation? What will they think of us? What if they get angry and tell us to go away?

Most of these thoughts are rooted in our own pride and fears. There were many who were hard-hearted towards the message that Jesus was bringing. He was rejected on a daily basis, probably by the majority of those he talked to and some who followed even left when they felt uncomfortable (John 6). We have a desire to be accepted not just by our peers but by the world and everyone that we come in to contact with. The truth is that all of us have that desire. We want to be known and loved, but the way to be known and loved isn't to avoid situations where we might be rejected, but to start getting to know and love others. We know that this is a basic human need and essentially what we are created for, but instead of seeking it out we wait for it to come to us. What if we started getting to know and love others.

As I am typing this, I've gotten news of a third suicide within three weeks of a student in one of the local school districts. After these things happen, there isn't anything we can do, but pray for the families and we can't carry the weight on our shoulders for another's decision, but being in true relationship with one another is so important. When we are hurting and broken we need face-to-face communication, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, but we walk by so many without eye contact or even to say "hi." We were created for relationship, true and intimate relationship with a God who loves us and cares about us unconditionally and he asks the same of us.

 ³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 ³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
 ⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

The least of these may be the homeless man on the DC sidewalk, a stranger on the morning commute, someone in the grocery store, the "nerd" at school, or maybe just someone we never thought to talk to. Look into the eyes of the people you walk by and remember that God created them and Jesus is in them. They have a desire to be known and loved, just like you. Take the time to talk to people, to seek out relationship, to put aside your own schedule and ambitions for the sake of someone else. It's necessary for it is what Christ has called us to and the reward is eternal. Smile at someone you don't know today. If I don't know you here is a smile... : ).