We live in a teeny tiny town. A place that almost seems silly to call a city. 1.5 miles square and 1500 (or less) people. My high school had more people in it than our town does. Far away from what I would consider normal (you know, somewhere that has a Target). But over the course of 5 1/2 years, we fell in love with this place and proudly call it our home.
I think the best part of living in a small and confined locale is that you become more aware of the people you are in proximity with. For example: if you live in a large city, you are far less likely to see the same people at your job, the grocery store, the gas station, the pharmacy, or even at a football game. But the people I see here, I see everywhere. And in the very same example, there are people that I have never seen, or I guess even noticed. The worst feeling I have experienced in a while is when a young girl that went to our high school died very suddenly. That event in and of itself is heart wrenching and devastating. Words can’t describe the sadness that overwhelms a community in that situation. But for me, the worst part was realizing that I had never met her.
Somewhere in the last 5 years, I came to assume that I knew most everyone in our town. Especially if they have a student or are a student. Yep, I had this prideful mindset that we reach everyone here with our ministry. Talk about a nice reality check. I have thought of this girl and her family often, wondering how I could have overlooked her. She was beautiful, and memorable, and from what I can tell, had given her heart to Christ. But it still makes my mind turn over and over.
This brings me to remember the fragility of life. There is a lot at stake these days. It’s becoming increasingly evident that the majority of people will leave this life without the saving grace of Jesus. Have you really ever looked at the world on just a given day? I mean really looked at the people you cross paths with. It is gut wrenching to think that they are not being reached. It’s extremely discouraging to realize that I can’t reach all of them. That I can’t say one magic word or sentence and they will want to accept all that Jesus has to offer. I am not an important person. I don’t have this power that I feel that I should. Somewhere along the way, I have tried to shoulder the burden of “saving” people, and being the perfect little light of Jesus.
People need Jesus. Just Jesus. Not my perfect words. Not my perfect actions. They don’t need polite little Christians who stray away from the bar out of fear of what will be said of them. They need people to love them and meet them right where they are at. You know what plagues the American Christian community the most? Legalism. Which basically is this line of thought: Let’s put the appearance of our church members over the ETERNAL WELLBEING of people. Good idea. Ugh, gag me.
Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. (2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT)
I have a hard time being bold and courageous in my faith. Considering that Jesus is the most important thing in my life, I do very little to spend the Good News of His grace. And I don’t know much of how to change that. But I know that Jesus is enough in the midst of the lostness and brokenness of this town, and even the world. We just need to move and let him do what needs done. We need to be His hands, feet, and mouth. Do what needs to be done, and drop our own agenda or way of thinking. Because we get it wrong a lot!!
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. (Ephesians 4:23 NLT)
We chose to dig in our heels here. We chose to figure out how to love this town the way God wants us to. And I pray that God would do His “exceedingly above and beyond anything we can do.”
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