20 cent mission

About 2 weeks ago I was on my way to a Texas Rangers game with a girlfriend. It was something that had popped up last minute, free tickets, amazing seats. We stopped at a local grocery store to grab some waters and on my way out a destitute looking, downtrodden seeming man sitting on the sidewalk asked me for 20 cents.

Honestly, my initial response was to keep walking and act as if I hadn't heard him, this is what I've learned from the world. However, I learned from a Godly woman in my life to SEE these people. Not to ignore them as the world who have me do. So, I turned to him, looked him in the eyes when I spoke, and told him, "I'm sorry, I don't have any cash on me." Which may or may not have been the whole truth at that moment, I honestly don't recall if I actually had any change or cash on me. But what I do know to be true, is that at that very moment I knew I had been conditioned to tell this man, 'No', regardless of his condition, and regardless of my circumstances. The thought always is, and the conversation that always follows is this: 'well, what if he buys drugs or alcohol with the money?'

So, I proceeded to get in my car (which happens to be a Mercedes, I don't know if that matters, but it made me feel ridiculous, and I think God used that to convict me in this situation) and my friend who had been waiting in the car asked me what the man had asked me. I told her what he'd asked me for, as I was digging change out of my ashtray while she pulled a dollar out of her wallet. She got out of the car and took him the $2.

Now, I don't know what the right or wrong thing is here. But what I do know is this, my friend and I had this very conversation sitting in the car there, how we are charged by Christ to clothe, care for and look after those less fortunate, as if they are Christ himself.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:41-45

And then about a week later, my best friend in the whole world who is on her last month of an 11 month long mission trip posted a blog with this very verse in it about this very topic! I love when God does that. I love it when He makes it so obviously clear to me.

These are her words: This month, I learned that a lot of people seek Jesus by having "Jesus time"- reading their Bible, praying about what comes next, and just sitting and waiting for God to show up. I know how to find Him, though. How to hear His voice and see His face. Say yes to the friend who wants to take you out to coffee. Fill in for a sick teammate and go to the orphanage. Jesus is all around us- living and breathing in the people around you, in the opportunities He hand delivers to you. All you have to do is recognize them- look them in the eyes, smile at them, and participate.

What's amazing is, YES! He is all around us! He provides so many opportunities, and I WANT to participate, I NEED to participate...the world needs us, our neighborhood needs us, our workplace needs us, the frazzled server at the restaurant needs us...They need us to show the love that is the truth. To give the love we have been given. Because we're the only ones that can. We've received in order to give, to share.

Dear God, show me those opportunities, let me recognize them, and give me the courage to participate. Let it become my nature, so I can let go of this worldly thought, and let your heart be mine.