The Right Place at the Right Time

Even though my life is quite ho-hum living in a safe, secure, 55+ community, I still don’t seem to run out of content for my daily blogs. God continually surprises me. Case in point:

Early Sunday, 5:30 am, with flashlight in hand, I head out on my morning walk before the warm sun rises. I know it’s going to be a hot one today. I decide to take a different, longer route because I want to get in my three miles. Had I not chosen this way, I might have missed what was up ahead. I head to my favorite walking-trail around the pond. Up ahead, I see something alongside the walking path. I’m scanning with my flashlight because I’ve seen bobcats before and sure don’t want to encounter one this morning. The closer I get, I can see it is someone sitting just off the concrete walking path.

It is Jan (name changed to protect the innocent). I haven't seen her out and about much lately. She has just taken a big fall. Her face is bloodied and so are her clothes. I'm about to call 9-1-1, but she resists. She tells me she's fine and just wants to sit there a few minutes to recover. I’m not thinking I can stand her up, but I know what I can do. “Jan, can I pray for you?” “Yes,” she replies. "But, don't get close -- the Coronavirus!” I assure her I’m healthy and don’t have the C-virus. I pray, and then ask how she’s doing. Her arms are hurting. I plead with her to let me call 9-1-1. But, no, she won’t have it. I ask if she has someone I can call, but her only daughter is in Houston.

Thirty minutes later, another morning walker -- literally my friend's droopy-eyed, plump, very mature beagle, Walker, and his owner, Bill. Bill is with me in urging Jan to let us call 9-1-1. But no. She is adamant. I ask if she has a wheel chair at home. She does and proceeds to instruct me how to get into her garage and to get her purse on the chair in her dining room. I make my way the blocks to her home. Upon my return, more neighbors have shown up. One is Ginny, who knows Jan well and despite Jan's objections, she calls 9-1-1. In five minutes, good looking, strong young men show up. I say: "Thanks, Jan!" 😁 Jan shouts at them: “Stay away from me. The coronavirus!” They assure her that they're "clean"! Jan is in so much fear of this "alien" that has invaded our world. Thus the reason why she walks early so she doesn’t encounter people who just might have the virus.

To shorten this saga, I’ll cut to the chase. After nearly two hours, the paramedics convince her to let them take her home in their EMS vehicle. Jan refused to be taken to the hospital for the same fear of the virus. Meanwhile, I continue to pray for Jan, for her heart and soul. I think about how many people who are paralyzed in fear because their attention is on all the negative in this world. Instead of dwelling on the positive and the good, they stay fixated on what's negative.

Fortunately, I had asked Jan for her phone number in case I couldn’t find her home, her purse or wheelchair. I called her at home on my way to church. She thanked me for praying for her and seeing after her. Her daughter was on the way to her. Thanks be to God! Jan called me yesterday to thank me again. I offered to get groceries for her and she needs straws. Praise the Lord! I have a new friend that wants, and needs, a friend.

Sometimes being a Good Samaritan isn’t accepted. Sometimes people don’t want help. As Mother Teresa said, “Love them anyway. Be kind to them anyway.” I like to think that I was on time in my walk this day – taking the longer way. I might have missed her if I had gone the short way. We are here for divine purposes. We have the opportunity every day to walk out our front doors to our mission field. Jan was my mission field this day. We just never know when God has set us up to be at the right place at the right time for Him.
"So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Let's Be Kindness Junkies

A "junkie" is someone consumed by an addiction. What a difference it would make if we were all addicted to being kind -- just can't help ourselves. It's who we are and what we do. A few days ago I told the story of our helping a lady whose keys were locked in her car and her cell phone was dead. She was so relieved when we showed up to help her. But, what if we had parked in another location or what if we were so into ourselves in conversation that we didn’t even notice her?

I believe we are all God’s messengers on assignment when we leave our homes (or even in our homes when we sense a nudge to encourage a family member or call someone to encourage them). Most of the time, kindness always begins with our eyes — the way we observe the world and are sensitive to the needs of other people.

That's what I caught when reading about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:33: “When HE SAW the man’s condition, his heart was filled with pity”. Notice that “he saw.” That's our starting point. If we want to learn to be a kinder person, our world view must change to being an observer of the needs around us. When we're in a hurry -- kindness opportunities evade us. If we're wanting to be a "kindness junkie", then we must slow down! Distractions are the death of kindness.

1 Corinthians 10:24 says “Look out for the good of others”. The first step to kindness is to ask God to give us a sensitive, spiritual radar to be on the lookout for people around us who are hurting emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be on high alert for the opportunity to spread a little kindness with our words and our actions.

I'm determined to be a kindness junkie. I want to be aware of those who need kindness ministered to them. I want a bumper crop of kindness to harvest. It’s not always easy to see the needs of other people, especially when they’re on the other side of the road. But it’s the starting point of kindness. Maybe it’s time to slow down and even stop to smell the roses because the roses we smell, might be someone who needs Jesus in human flesh.

The Good Guys Wear White Hats

Lately I've been honing in on being a Good Samaritan or in Texas, we would say "being one of the good guys that wear white hats”. My Texas nephew is one of those good guys. This is Robert and Becky Wheat. I stay amused with following him on Facebook. He proudly wears his white hat most all the time except when he’s in church – and he’s in church a lot, as a beloved Texas Baptist pastor. And, he is always finding great photo opportunities to spot the hat in a location that makes for a hilarious and/or meaningful FB post. I had a great time scrolling through his FB timeline to snatch some of his photos. You’ll see wit and his passion for Christ in them. He is definitely one of those good guys that wears a white hat -- he is compassionate, kind, sensitive and is quick to meet the needs of others. I’m so proud of him and his love for Christ, his heart for sharing the Good News, as well as being an incredible role model for others. He makes me want to get a white hat – if that could help!

I remember the good ole' days when good manners, courtesy, politeness, compassion, concern for each other, patriotism, kindness, respectfulness, graciousness, consideration, and thoughtfulness were the norm. In reality, all those qualities are still right here. It's easy to recognize those who have those qualities. They may not (literally) wear white hats, but they are those white-hat-kind-of-people out there. Let's face it -- times really haven't changed that much because there were always those who leaned toward the wild side -- the mean, ornery, and disrespectful side -- those who could find something negative in every situation, instead of looking for, finding the good and even BEING the good..

Deep inside of most everyone is a "white-hat-wearing" loving and kind somebody. They came into this world "wearing a white hat" -- well, sort of. They were pure and precious. I often wonder what happened to those pure and precious babies who eventually lost their "white hats"? What is in their past that created someone so opposite -- their upbringing, their loss of a value system, their choice of friends? What was it that changed them from "loving God, respectfully loving others and living with kindness and honor"? It’s hard to believe how polar opposite we can be. Upbeat, celebratory and happy or rivalry, nasty, and bitter. I get that people are afraid, angered, upset, and confused about this world we live in, but we can change "our little world" if we want to.

We can lean in closer to God Who can change us and make us new. He is delighted to give out "white hats" to His kids. We can be devoted followers of Christ Who replace our meanness for kindness and our ugly talk to love talk. My Mama said it best, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

My Mama and Mother Teresa had a lot in common when it comes to loving and caring. Here's the way Mother Teresa put it:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

You, know, I think Mother Teresa must have owned a white cowgirl hat because she sure did talk the talk and walk the walk that most of those folks in white hats seem to do. I'm thinking I need to go on a shopping spree for a white hat!

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

I’m continuing on in my “We Need Each Other” campaign. I was inspired recently when I ran across a FB post that asked, “Remember this guy?” with a photo of this sharp looking, well-dressed man. Yes, I remember this really cool dude that greeted us daily on TV, Mr. Rogers. I apologize to you young’uns’ who were born too late to know him. Today, he'd have to come packaged as a rapper or be able to hip-hop dance for us to think him "cool". BTW -- the word "cool" is still in -- I checked! Mr. Rogers sang this to us: "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?" That was dear, Mr. Rogers! He made us feel that having neighbors was one of life's greatest gifts.

In Luke 10, Jesus told the scribe ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself" and the scribe replied, "But who is my neighbor?" That's when Jesus gave His brilliant explanation in a parable about the Good Samaritan. What a storyteller Jesus was! Mr. Rogers' stories were similar. He taught kids to love themselves and others.

Hands down, Jesus took neighboring to a whole new level when he talked about the Jewish man who had been stripped, beaten, robbed and left for dead by bandits. A priest and another religious man saw him but passed him by. The Samaritan (enemies to the Jews) saw him and was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he gave the innkeeper money and said, ‘Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll repay you when I come back.’ So, Jesus' answer to the scribe's question, "Who is my neighbor?" was answered when he said, "Go and do what the Samaritan did.”

Whew! In these days, that's a HUGE statement! It suggests that all of God's children must be our neighbors and we must love them just as the Samaritan man did! In this time of so much political hostility, biased opinions, questionable decisions being made about equality and what's right and wrong, I wonder if Jesus would still say the same thing today. After all, there is so much more to consider: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, Asians, the poor, the homeless, the unattractive, gays, lesbians, the handicapped, the mentally ill, and countless other groups are still often the victims of ridicule, hatred, and discrimination.

So, then, the question really is: "Lord, there are so many that don’t agree with my philosophies, my faith, my values and my opinions, so then, WHO really is my neighbor?" I'm quite sure he's responding ALL MY KIDS are neighbors! After 2,000 years of Me telling you that.....nothing has changed in my record books. It's STILL 'Love your neighbors as you love yourselves!" L-O-V-E -- that's a 4-letter word to be AND do! That "LOVE your neighbor" admonition doesn't have UNLESS in it anywhere!

Who's Your Neighbor?

Remember the really cool dude that greeted us daily on TV, Mr. Rogers? Today, he'd have to come packaged as a rapper or be able to hip hop dance for us to think him "cool". BTW -- the word "cool" is still in -- I checked! Mr. Rogers sang this to us: "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?" That was dear, Mr. Rogers! He made having neighbors one of life's greatest gifts.

In Luke 10, Jesus told the scribe ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself" and the scribe replied, "But who is my neighbor?" That's when Jesus gave His brilliant explanation in a parable about the Good Samaritan. What a story teller Jesus was! Mr. Rogers' stories were similar. He taught kids to love themselves and others.

But, hands down, Jesus took neighboring to a whole new level when he talked about the Jewish man who had been stripped, beaten, robbed and left for dead by bandits. A priest and another religious man saw him, but passed him by, but the Samaritan (enemies to the Jews) saw him and was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he gave the innkeeper money and said, ‘Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll repay you when I come back.’

So, Jesus' answer to the scribe's question, "Who is my neighbor?" was answered when he said, "Go and do what the Samaritan did.”

Whew! In our day and time, that's a HUGE statement! It suggests that all of God's children must be our neighbors and we must love them just as the Samaritan man did! In this time of so much political hostility, biased opinions, questionable decisions being made about equality and what's right and wrong, I wonder if Jesus would still say the same thing today. After all, there is so much more to consider: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhists, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, the poor, the homeless, the unattractive, gays, lesbians, the handicapped, the mentally ill, and countless other groups are still sometimes the victims of ridicule, hatred and discrimination. Hmmm! So, the question is: "Jesus, who IS MY neighbor?" And somehow, I think He must be looking down and saying, "ALL MY KIDS are neighbors! After 2,000 years of Me telling you that.....nothing has changed in my record books. It's STILL 'Love your neighbors as you love yourselves!" L-O-V-E -- that's a 4-letter word to be AND do!

Lean on ME

Yesterday, I posted about getting ourselves off our minds, and to understand why God placed us here -- at this time and this place. What if He has us here for a bigger-than-life purpose -- to be here as His messengers and His hands and heart extended to others?

A year ago, this week, devastating tornadoes hit Moore, OK and hundreds of homes and lives were taken. As tragic as it was, the outpouring of love and the real tangible ways that communities, organizations and people stepped up to make a difference in those hurting people's lives -- displayed the beauty that comes when we care and take action beyond our own circumstances. Not just in the most crtical times, but everyday, people are experiencing tremendous pain and hurt in ways beyond what we can imagine, and I think about those who step up to help in untold ways that express God's hands extended to them.

If you are one of those messengers who heed the call of God's dispatcher, I just want to say "THANK YOU" for being, doing, and living St. Francis' words "Preach the Gospel at all times.....and sometimes, use words!" May God bless you for loving and caring and BEING that Good Samaritan and that friend, brother, and sister to those who need you. I'm thanking God for your heart of compassion. You know why you are here, and you're making the world a better place.