"Our very lives are our messages, and we cannot take ourselves out of the equation of mission." -
Alan Hirsch (p. 92)
My wife,
Heidi, is so good at noticing people. Whether it's a server at a restaurant, the checker at the grocery store, or a neighbor, she's great at initiating meaningful and uplifting conversations. Oftentimes (especially in a fast-food drive thru), she goes out of her way to say "please" and "thank you," make eye contact, and intentionally leave the other person feeling better after she's gone than before she arrived.
On the other hand, if I'm willing to reflect honestly, I "quickly judge what a person is like, what their motives are, and if there is anything to gain by pursuing a deeper engagement with them." (p. 84) In Chapter 2 ("Meet the Extras: The Habit of Beholding Others") of
Right Here, Right Now,
Lance Ford challenges my unfortunate ability to categorize and/or dismiss people based on my own perceptions. In fact, he poignantly summarizes and suggests, "As Jesus' ambassadors, seeking to have a
right here, right now impact, it is imperative that we cultivate in ourselves the Jesus habit of moving past prejudiced
assessments of others we get via these initial impressions.
We should work to develop a hearing ear and seeing eye to what the Lord is saying to us about another individual." (p. 86, emphasis mine)
Honestly, although the contexts vary, this section reminded me of the opening rhythms of
Revelation: "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches." Perhaps, the Wind Words are consistently blowing relationship opportunities with other people our way, but we're too "plugged in" or "tuned out" to hear.
*"What would happen if every place you were to go today, as far as it depends on you, peace [and the habit of beholding others] would be manifest?"
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