Monday afternoon. 1300.cst
(photo from dinner at Jamison's 21st birthday dinner)
Well yesterday I asked two congregations, "who had noticed stress in people as they were out shopping this last week" Hmmm.
Naturally, only about 20 percent ever respond unless it's a joke.. lol, but with that said there were a lot of smiles. Smiles. Hmmmm. What a concept. Infectious, intoxicating and invigorating. When mixed with a heart full of unconditional love, it's a powerful weapon against all forms of ---- crap that the world will throw at you. So why is it so hard to do.
Think of the people you love the most and want to be around. Close your eyes and envision them. Are they happy or smiling or full of love and grace...?
Think of the people you pray the most for, want the most for, ache the most for. Close your eyes. are they pictured as happy, full of love and grace or hurting, broken, prideful and unhappy?
As we finish out through this season of remembering Our Only Hope who came into this world helpless, let's (me first) try to look for those around us who need the hugs, need the gifts, need the kisses and kind words, meals, SMILES and the Prayers. It's easy to do this to the ones who are healthy. Pretty hard to do it to those we're trying to avoid. I think it starts with an honest smile from our hearts, reflecting the love of Christ buried deep into our deepest places. That wells up and shouts, "this smile is supernatural". You know it when you see it. It makes people want it, or convicts them when they run from it. Love, yes love, Agape and Philadelphia does not put self first or demand or expect. It just "does". And oh how "I", we need more of this attribute of Christ more and more each day. Judgment, condemnation, anger, malice, self-pity and self-righteousness somehow just don't seem like the one who set us free and lives within us.
So today whenever you encounter someone in a room, on a street, at work or play or home or ANYWHERE, try beginning your very first contact with them with a smile... even if your heart is aching. See what happens.. Surprise me God.
The phone is ringing, can't people just leave me alone when I'm in my quiet place..
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1 comment:
OK, FOLLOW UP. WHAT A DAY THAT WAS SMILING AT EVERY PERSON. INCREDIBLE THE RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE. MOST BEGAN TO SMILE, SOME LOOKED PERPLEXED, SOME LOOKED AWAY.... BUT THEN AT THE HEALTH CLUB AFTER A RACKETBALL MATCH I HAD TO GO TO THE SHOWERS AND WITHOUT THINKING I ENTERED THE MAIN SHOWER/HOT TUB/SAUNA/STEAMROOM AREA WITH THAT BIG SMILE AND 30 GUYS IN THE BUCK.. AND... WITHIN 3 SECONDS WIPED THAT SMILE OFF MY FACE AS THE FIRST 3 NAKED GUYS I KNOW LOOKED LIKE THEY WANTED TO FIGHT ME FOR SMILING AT THEM WHILE NAKED.... OK.. I LEARNED YOU CAN'T SMILE AT EVERYONE ALL THE TIME ;)
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