Upside down
I'm very hesitant to post this...
There's a lot happening in my life right now. I'm back from Belize and I'm different. I realized a lot about myself and the world around me. A lot needs to change. So it's changing. We went to Belize and met people. We gave them food. House to house we went handing out food and talking to people. We didn't shove Jesus down their throats. We didn't come in with our big fat American wallets and try to fix all their problems. We loved them. We met a need, emotional and physical. And people changed. People were moved.
I'm sick of religion. I'm sick of being fake. Of telling people to love Jesus when I hardly know the man. I want to know him. I want to know that it's like to love people. Not give money to people on the street. Anyone can do that. Jesus didn't do that. Jesus knew people. Jesus loved people. There's too much going on in my head to write here now.
I met Richard tonight. Richard is in his late 40's. He has MS and can't sleep at night. Richard is alone. I felt like driving, like going where people are. So I went into downtown Walden and parked. I walked a few minutes and I saw Richard. I was going to chicken out and not talk to him but I refused. I had to do this. So I said hello. We talked for over an hour on a park bench in front of the VFW. I don't know how long it was, I didn't have my watch on. It didn't matter. He was happy to talk. Richard's life is pain. Emotional, physical pain. But most people would think Richard is crazy. People are uncomfortable talking to Richard because he has fits sometimes. But Richard loved to talk. He went on and on. I listened. I talked sometimes. Not much though. We talked about his family, his pain, his life. I didn't shove Jesus down his throat. I hardly mentioned God at all except when he brought up the horrible church kids he used to drive in his bus. He was a bus driver years ago. He didn't need Jesus, at least not the Jesus we try to sell at church. He needed love. He needed someone to listen and care about him. He talked about how he didn't want to get close to people because he hurts people's feelings. He doesn't want to hurt people. That made me sad.
I'm going to pray for Richard. I'm going to talk to him again. Not because I want to do something noble. Not because I should evangelize him. Because I love him. Believe it or not.
I am hesitant to post this because I am afraid that people will think I'm doing it for recognition or glory. Know this: I don't care. I needed to write this for me. If anyone is where I am may they be encouraged. But it's not about me. Don't let this be about me. This is about getting to know Jesus. He's here. He's in me. He's in Richard. Now I've met Richard. If I can get to know Richard maybe I can get to know Jesus. Maybe we all can.
There's a lot happening in my life right now. I'm back from Belize and I'm different. I realized a lot about myself and the world around me. A lot needs to change. So it's changing. We went to Belize and met people. We gave them food. House to house we went handing out food and talking to people. We didn't shove Jesus down their throats. We didn't come in with our big fat American wallets and try to fix all their problems. We loved them. We met a need, emotional and physical. And people changed. People were moved.
I'm sick of religion. I'm sick of being fake. Of telling people to love Jesus when I hardly know the man. I want to know him. I want to know that it's like to love people. Not give money to people on the street. Anyone can do that. Jesus didn't do that. Jesus knew people. Jesus loved people. There's too much going on in my head to write here now.
I met Richard tonight. Richard is in his late 40's. He has MS and can't sleep at night. Richard is alone. I felt like driving, like going where people are. So I went into downtown Walden and parked. I walked a few minutes and I saw Richard. I was going to chicken out and not talk to him but I refused. I had to do this. So I said hello. We talked for over an hour on a park bench in front of the VFW. I don't know how long it was, I didn't have my watch on. It didn't matter. He was happy to talk. Richard's life is pain. Emotional, physical pain. But most people would think Richard is crazy. People are uncomfortable talking to Richard because he has fits sometimes. But Richard loved to talk. He went on and on. I listened. I talked sometimes. Not much though. We talked about his family, his pain, his life. I didn't shove Jesus down his throat. I hardly mentioned God at all except when he brought up the horrible church kids he used to drive in his bus. He was a bus driver years ago. He didn't need Jesus, at least not the Jesus we try to sell at church. He needed love. He needed someone to listen and care about him. He talked about how he didn't want to get close to people because he hurts people's feelings. He doesn't want to hurt people. That made me sad.
I'm going to pray for Richard. I'm going to talk to him again. Not because I want to do something noble. Not because I should evangelize him. Because I love him. Believe it or not.
I am hesitant to post this because I am afraid that people will think I'm doing it for recognition or glory. Know this: I don't care. I needed to write this for me. If anyone is where I am may they be encouraged. But it's not about me. Don't let this be about me. This is about getting to know Jesus. He's here. He's in me. He's in Richard. Now I've met Richard. If I can get to know Richard maybe I can get to know Jesus. Maybe we all can.