What if I really loved people? Like before I knew them, and without judging them first and setting expectations?
Background: As I got to the Kansas City Airport yesterday to fly to Colorado for a much needed vacation, my security gate wasn’t open yet (I like being early, ok?). I walked by it to find a seat to wait and this guy kept looking at me saying ‘hey’ like I was his best friend, then began looking slightly rejected when I didn’t reply.
But I’d never seen him before. I eventually realized that he was indeed talking to me, so I politely said ‘hey’ back but kept walking because I wasn’t sure what was going on and thought he was weird. He stood out in the crowd because of his epilepsy safety hat that he was wearing, but he also kept saying ‘hey’ to everyone who walked by. Most people had the same reaction as I did, or didn’t acknowledge him at all.
Not that I necessarily want to say hey to strangers all the time, but this guy was genuinely excited to see people and at least appeared to be pretty non-judgmental upon initial impression. I guess that’s my judgment of him….Looking back, I kind of wish I’d just sat down and talked to him while I was waiting, but I didn’t. I checked my email instead. Lame. The former would’ve made a better story out of my life.
For starters though, what if we all loved people and acted genuinely excited to see the people that we know?
And, what if we loved new people as we met them instead of waiting for them to prove themselves worthy of our friendship?
What if we would just quit caring so much about what others think of us and take opportunities as they come?
What if we loved like Jesus (or at least tried)? Or rather let Him love people through us?
Maybe not everyone operates like I do, but these are surely things I can work on. I (eventually) love it when God uses random people to convict me. Anyway, the security gate opened and I went through. Walking to my gate I passed the guy again and he said ‘hey’. I again said ‘hey’ and kept walking…..
I wonder how many potential blessings we miss out on in life simply because we 1) don’t feel like talking to people in the moment, 2) aren’t willing to, or 3) think they’re strange and keep walking?
Just some thoughts from a coffee shop….
(this is not the coffee shop)…
but is in Colorado.
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