Tear Down the Walls...

I was walking yesterday morning, and it was beautiful. The mountains were screaming the creativity of God. Let's be honest, they always do, but this morning, I just had to thank Him for what He created to remind me of His unfailing Love.

Anyway, I'll get to the point of this post. Lately, for many reasons, I've just been thinking a lot about how lost and desperate this world is. And how much I want to love it more and be Jesus in more ways to the people around me. As I walked, I passed an older lady sitting at a bus stop bench. She had no teeth, and no one sitting next to her. She just sat there alone, sort of basking in the sunlight. I took out my earphones and smiled at her, saying good morning. She gave me a toothless and sweet smile and said hello back.

Then I kept walking. And as I turned the corner I was convicted with the opportunity I had just passed by. Why couldn't I have sat with her until her bus arrived? I was by no means in any hurry. And she was alone and friendly and sweet, and I'm sure we could have had a great conversation that would have brightened her day and warmed our hearts. But I passed it by...

Then as I continued walking, a wonderful older black lady walking with two boys about five years old and a stroller (she had her hands quite full), told her boys in the sweet "mamma" black voice :)- hopefully that isn't offensive in anyway because I mean it in the sweetest way possible- to move out of the way and let me pass. I slowed down and told her thanks so much, that she was too sweet and didn't have to do that (as I was about to walk out into the street to pass them by), but she smiled and said, "honey you are walking much faster than we can go". And it just made me smile! I said hi to those precious little black boys and again continued to walk. And as I turned another corner, I realized I'd passed up another opportunity. I thought I should have offered to babysit for free sometime. The neighborhood I was in was one of those that usually (not always) houses a lot of underprivileged families. She may have been more than happy to have help like that. Maybe it sounds like a weird thing to do and perhaps a little forward, but what is the worst that could have happened? She'd have said no?

Again, my heart felt heavy. Why these two missed opportunities right in a row that pierced my heart and revealed my selfishness? I was convicted. I can't change what I didn't do. But, I knew both of those experiences had softened and sensitized my heart to look out and step out a little more next time. So I prayed a lot the rest of my walk, that the next time there was an opportunity like that right in front of my face, I wouldn't pass it up...

Then there came a beautiful thing. God loves to challenge us. Just last night -less than 8 hours after those experiences -Luke and I decided to go on a date and just walk up and down Pearl St. in Boulder. (He had just finished telling me about his trip down to Denver to pick up his books. While there, he saw a homeless man and gave him some cash without a second thought. Luke, your selflessness is such a challenge to me! And last night you were my reminder!)

Anyway, we saw a LOT of people, but of course, one in particular was my opportunity and God's direct answer to my prayer. A man with a half-smile that was oddly accompanied with sort of a twinkle in his eye walked right up to us. I noticed his beat-up bike and his backpack near bursting capacity as I looked him in the eye. He returned the favor and looked both Luke and I in the eyes and said, "Guys, I'm suffering from a severe, debilitating, and anti-social disease." (and at this point I was thinking, WOW, this guy doesn't seem to anti-social to me) But he continued, "It's called poverty. Anything would help. Please."

Maybe it was so beautiful because he smiled as he said it and he allowed and welcomed our laughs. Maybe it was so perfect because Luke and I both simultaneously pulled out our wallets and gave him some cash (instead of arrogantly assuming like we both have done before that he'd just blow it on something useless or damaging). Maybe it was a beautiful moment because of the light and joy it brought to his face. He struck up conversation with us and engaged us in some story-telling. He really was quite good at it. He thanked us a ton, and told us we were from a different planet than the rest of these people walking around. We said, "Don't worry, all three of us are in a different planet. It's Boulder." At that, he laughed, smiled, and bid us goodnight and we did the same. We talked a lot about him as we went into a Starbucks and grabbed something warm to drink. We could have asked him to come with us, we both thought and said aloud. Another missed opportunity? Maybe not necessarily...hindsight is always 20/20, and maybe it's just a way that God is not allowing us to be comfortable. He has to continue to challenge us to reach further out to the people He loves. So maybe this was such a beautiful opportunity because we were in it together and that man challenged both of us and we challenged each other. And I don't think any 3 of our hearts will ever be the same...

HERE COMES THE TAKE-AWAY!!!

I know this is just one extremely small and seemingly insignificant example, but that is how it starts. As God continues to soften my heart towards His people, I'm praying for all of us, that He would continue and begin to open our hearts and our eyes and give us opportunities (no matter how small, and no matter how big! -NOT forgetting that we serve a Limitless God) to show the world that He loves them and created them to live freely and fully in His Love.

So, in light of everything I've said, please know that it's been extremely humbling for me. I'm just as guilty and selfish as anyone, and I'm just so thankful that I've been saved by a God who has the power to change my selfish heart into one that is capable of being generous and full of His love. It's going to take all of us making the conscious decision each day to DO something, anything, not just sit and talk or sit and pray and do nothing. Let's go out there as ONE UNITED CHURCH, as the SINGLE and EMPOWERED BODY OF CHRIST, forgetting all the petty differences that cause us to build walls around each other and around the brokenness of the world, and let's begin to tear down the walls and seize the opportunities to give the love and healing of Jesus to the broken and desperate world for which the heart of God beats!

After all, we were once broken and helpless, needy and hungry, and God saved us. Now through us, ALL OF US, He is, can, and WILL save the world!

Let's serve where we can...

Let's give more of our time...

Let's sacrifice more of ourselves...

Let's share what we've been given...

Let's use our talents for the benefit of others...

Let's just go out there and DO!!

"Say no to wrong.

Learn to do good.

Work for justice.

Help the down-and-out.

Stand up for the homeless.

Go to bat for the defenseless."

-Isaiah 1:16-17

Here are some (ok, maybe a lot) of the words to the song that sparked this post. It's called "Tear Down the Walls" by Hillsong United, from their new CD called A Cross//The Earth. I know there are a lot, and this post has already been so long, but please read through them. And let yourself be challenged by them...

"Tear down the walls, see the world

Is there something we have missed?

Turn from ourselves, Look beyond

There is so much more than this.

And I don't need to see it to believe it,

I don't need to see it to believe it

Cause I can't shake this fire

Burning deep inside my heart.

This life is Yours, and hope is rising

As your glory floods our hearts

Let love tear down these walls

That all creation would come back to you

It's all for you

Your name is glorious, glorious

Your love is changing us, calling us

To worship in Spirit and in Truth

As all creation returns to you..."

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." -Mother Teresa