So today as I was walking on campus and I realized how many people I see each day. Seriously walking from class to class I see hundreds of people, but do I really see them? Normally I am so busy as I walk down the streets, my mind is bouncing between classes, homework, plans for AIA or the weekend, figuring out when I'm going to get a nap in you know, important stuff ;) that I just pay no attention to anyone whizzing past me on the street.
Today though I looked around for a moment and saw a girl who was walking down the street and she just looked so sad. I couldn't help but think, what's her story? Did she just bomb a test, get bad news, break up with a boyfriend, does she know Jesus loves her, does she know I really just want to give her a hug right now? In the few seconds it took for her to pass, questions bombarded me, I wanted to know this girl's story, and then she was gone, we passed each other and I probably couldn't even pick her out of a crowd again.
I took the rest of my walk from Bascom to Engineering Hall to just watch people passing by. So many people, so many stories, so many questions flying through my mind. What's playing on his Ipod, who's she talking to on the phone, are they dating, why won't she look me in the eyes; with every person I passed I felt like I wanted to know more.
Then, I began to wonder-What do you think it was like for Jesus to walk down the road, did He experience something similar? Did He tap into His omniscience every time He saw someone new? He did every really see someone new or did He already know the story of everyone He met? Was He always on compassion overload, did He every have to turn that off?
What did it look like for Jesus to love His neighbors daily? I know the Bible records the great stories of miracles that defined His ministry, but everyday, walking down the road between miracles, what did loving His neighbors mean? So flip side, what does loving these people in my life for seconds each day look like?
Obviously I can't stop every person I see on the street and dig into their story, I would never get to class. I can't just go around hugging everyone who looks like they've had a bad day and then keep going on with my day. So what can I do?
I like this post. Great question when you asked, "did He experience something similar?" I wonder if He did. You know that story where he was walking through the streets and that woman touched the end of his robe... He stopped... He knew who touched him but he asked anyway.... I wonder if every time he touched someone he got a different sensation, can you imagine- it's like that movie, The Green Mile.... it's all very interesting!
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I know, as I was writing, I thought about the woman at the well, I am convinced the only reason Jesus stopped at that well was to have that conversation with her and love on her, was that how every minute of His life was though? I guess that might be the ultimate example of living in the Father's will?
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