I remember serving with a group of people once. These people were good hearted but had never experienced a different culture other than their own. They had taken mission trips and talked with people, but they really had not EXPERIENCED anything outside of their own culture. They were "visitors" rather than family on those trips.
We served food and partnered with a local ministry to share free groceries. Well, some of the groceries offered through the local food bank had expiration dates recently passed. The reaction of my co-servers was less than encouraging to the people we were serving. Since then, Angel Food Ministries has birthed offering current groceries for a low price each month, but at that time, there were few options. The people taking the groceries had to feed their families. It wasn't uplifting or edifying for anyone to hear, "EEWWW!" from the kitchen or backroom.
This reaction hit home for me because it had not been long since I'd been in the same boat as those taking the free food. Many Saturday mornings were spent in line at the food bank. After receiving my bounty, I'd rush home to cook the "limpy" vegetables and freezing them so they would last a week or two and sorting through the things I'd need to cook soon. Because I had lived it, I was sensitive to the reaction of my co-laborers.
We served food and partnered with a local ministry to share free groceries. Well, some of the groceries offered through the local food bank had expiration dates recently passed. The reaction of my co-servers was less than encouraging to the people we were serving. Since then, Angel Food Ministries has birthed offering current groceries for a low price each month, but at that time, there were few options. The people taking the groceries had to feed their families. It wasn't uplifting or edifying for anyone to hear, "EEWWW!" from the kitchen or backroom.
This reaction hit home for me because it had not been long since I'd been in the same boat as those taking the free food. Many Saturday mornings were spent in line at the food bank. After receiving my bounty, I'd rush home to cook the "limpy" vegetables and freezing them so they would last a week or two and sorting through the things I'd need to cook soon. Because I had lived it, I was sensitive to the reaction of my co-laborers.
We all do it, though, don't we? There are things we don't understand, so our reaction is "gross! yuck!" without consideration of another person's reality. We forget the basics, like - We are not always right! Our way is NOT always right for everyone! God's plan for each of us differs in many ways! Different doesn't mean wrong!
We may comment about someone buying a cup of coffee at Starbucks or driving a seemingly expensive car if we know they are financially struggling. But, we really don't know if the person had a gift card for Starbucks or if the expensive car had been paid off long ago. Seriously, it really is none of our business! Why do we continually do this? Are we uncomfortable or overwhelmed with the needs around us? Are we insecure about our own lifestyle choices? Why? click here for a short video that goes a little deeper on this.
Challenge for today: Seek out someone with a different culture, belief or life stage and LISTEN to their story, their life, and more. Learn something and hold your tongue when the urge to teach pops up. Relax, enjoy and listen. I'm going to choose to listen this week (with God's help).
We may comment about someone buying a cup of coffee at Starbucks or driving a seemingly expensive car if we know they are financially struggling. But, we really don't know if the person had a gift card for Starbucks or if the expensive car had been paid off long ago. Seriously, it really is none of our business! Why do we continually do this? Are we uncomfortable or overwhelmed with the needs around us? Are we insecure about our own lifestyle choices? Why? click here for a short video that goes a little deeper on this.
Challenge for today: Seek out someone with a different culture, belief or life stage and LISTEN to their story, their life, and more. Learn something and hold your tongue when the urge to teach pops up. Relax, enjoy and listen. I'm going to choose to listen this week (with God's help).
No comments:
Post a Comment