Normal: (adj.) Conforming to a standard; usual, typical or expected.
I think one of the greatest excuses that silences our mouths and binds together our hands from being a difference maker is the saying, “it’s always been that way.”
The other day I was walking down the streets of Nepal and I saw a woman with leprosy laying out on a mat begging for money. Immediately in my head I thought, “Just another normal day.” I encounter people on the race DAILY asking for money, or begging for a bite to eat. It has become normal to me and it has become normal to many people around the world as they see new Facebook posts about poverty, or pass a homeless person and a cardboard sign on the side of the road.
Let’s just be honest here… especially on the streets of ATL you can bet it is pretty “normal” to see a homeless person on the side of the streets. You know it’s “normal” for people in third world countries to be starving, and it’s even gotten to the point where it’s “normal” to see people right in your hometown who are in need.
It’s normal… it’s just the way life is.
There are some people who are blessed with beautiful homes, monogrammed dresses for their well fed children, and cars that not only take them places, but with horsepower and style.
And as they drive to work or take their kids to vacation it is pretty “normal” to see someone that is not as blessed as they are.
But because:
“That is the way the world is.”
“There are too many people to help… I can’t save them all”
Or my personal favorite
“That’s normal. It’s the way things have always been.”
We have decided to not even let it upset us anymore. I mean, why would it? It’s normal.
May it never be normal again. Not to me, and not to you.
I want to proclaim truth because my eyes have opened to it, and I want your eyes to open to it as well.
Though it may be a reoccurring thing to see a shivering person on the street begging for money it is not normal. Though you may ALWAYS see commercials of children without clean water… it is not normal.
Just because something is constantly occurring and you are constantly hearing about does not mean it is normal, it actually makes it the complete opposite because though people hear of this over and over again nothing awakes within them… and that is very abnormal to me.
Hear me out… I am not condemning churches, believers, or you. I know so many people who live beautiful lives yet give an abundance to help other people. So many people constantly give to missions or homeless people, and an abundance of people gave to me so I could do what I am doing today.
I am saying there is still a problem within the hearts of so many people… including me. On that cold day here in Nepal I thought a woman who was abandoned by her family and left on the streets to die was “normal”, because I had seen it so many times. I don’t think the problem is people aren’t giving enough or doing enough. I think the problem is we have let the meaning of “normal” transform our minds and our hearts to believe there is nothing further that can be done about it.
For example, I went to love on the children here in the slums. They lived beside a river filled with waste and they were covered in dirt and chapped skin. I was bundled up in a coat, pants, socks, hat and gloves, yet there was a two-year-old boy with no shoes and wearing only shorts and a long sleeved shirt. As I looked around the slums filled with so many children I had realized that this became normal to me because I have seen it so many times. Then the overwhelming thought that there is no possible way I could help ALL of these people paralyzed me right where I stood.
When we lose sight on the one in front of us to focus on the many around us we allow numbers to discourage and disqualify us. This is not a calling that cares anything about numbers.
I love reading in the book of John and seeing the ways Jesus… well… loved.
Even the one, even for only one He would stop, delay His journey, or hike to go visit. I know this with all of my heart, Jesus didn’t believe in “normal.” When he walked towards someone who was broken or hurt the masses didn’t matter to Him nor did the thought that in reality during that time it was “normal.” Sickness wasn’t normal. Death wasn’t normal. Pain wasn’t normal. It wasn’t normal to Him… it was an opportunity for Him. He focused on the one right before Him, and all of His power, love, and healing was stored up for that one person at that exact time.
We make this list out of what we need to do as Christians, but obviously we are doing something wrong because in the state of Georgia alone there are 14,380 churches and 1,648 orphans.
I’m going to say that again even though you could just read the statement above a second time:
In the state of Georgia there are 14,380 CHURCHES and 1,648 orphans.
Florida: 16,805 churches and 5,129 orphans.
Tennessee: 11,179 churches and 2,517 orphans.
The list goes on and on.
You could focus on the number of orphans and be overwhelmed, but I’m focused on the number of churches and I’m confused.
In the “list” of what “Christians do” it looks to me like we have failed. Why?
We have missed one of the greatest commandments.
John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love God. Love people.
The way the world is today isn’t “normal.” This is not how God created and designed the world to be. God didn’t purposefully place children in environments where they would be infected with diseases and die. He didn’t create a beautiful daughter or son and say to himself, “yes… this one will be left to starve on the streets and die alone.”
He is a good Father.
And so now you are asking yourself… “Then why does this happen? Why does such a good God leave people to suffer?”
Well my friend, He didn’t.
He created you.
He made you and formed you to be a difference maker. To focus on the one. He created you to not believe in normal, and He gave you a fire to not let other people settle for “normal” as well. Instead of asking for God to do something, ask Him what He wants to do through you… because it’s something and it’s big… and it sure as heck isn’t normal.
