Small Reminder…
Of why I need to continuosly act and respond with the love of Jesus…
Sunday night, I was meeting some friends at a DQ for some desserts, but first I stopped off at Byerly's to get some shaving cream, deoderant and of course, some sushi.
While walking in a man walking with his son said hello to me. Normally I wouldn't think anything of it, say hi back and be on my way. But the hello was one like he knew me. It caught me off guard a little bit. Similar to my encounter in mid-May, but different in the fact I know I didn't know this guy…
So I politely (at least I hope so) said hello back as I continued to walk into the store. My sister asked if I knew him and I shrugged my shoulders and responded "I don't think so". No more than 2 seconds later we turn to look at him one more time and he is pointing to me and we could make out that he was telling his son "that was the communion guy, the one who served us tonight…"
It was kind of a "whoa" moment. I wasn't behaving unlovingly, or being crude or anything but it made me think that if I didn't recognize this guy, how many times a day without my knowledge is there somebody pointing and telling a quick story about me? Positive or negative? If it is a positive story and I am in the middle of telling a questionable joke or doing something I shouldn't or even just having a short temper with people. That can have a negative effect on the reflection I am trying to put across with my actions in loving and living like Jesus did.
You can get a snapshot of somebody in 4 seconds… How is that 4 seconds going to be remembered? From those you know and more importantly, from those you dont know…
I do my best to make eye-contact with people when I am out and about, you know, like pumping gas, shopping at the grocery store.
I do my best to pardon myself when I pass in front of someone at the grocery store. You know, when they are intently studying who has the best price on canned tomatoes.
I try to smile at as many people I can in passing. Not a half-hearted smile. And not a smile like I'm so incredibly happy that my face is going to pop.
I've noticed that people just don't look at others when they are in public. That's sort of wierd to me.
But after writing this to you, I just realized that I RARELY, and I mean RARELY ever look over at someone when I am at a stop-light. Looking over at someone while you are in idle? Now that…..THAT creeps me out.