What do drug dealers, random motorists, and a future scientist have in common? They’re all often marginalized and neglected. God has really placed a desire on my heart over the past couple months to really see those who are overlooked by those around them and show them that they are seen and loved.
The Drug Dealer
This desire to notice the unseen started with the marijuana sellers I ran into in Kathmandu. There are plenty of them, and I quickly discovered that American men are at the top of their list of potential buyers. For days, I could barely walk a hundred yards down the street without someone furtively asking me if I would like some hash, weed, pot, or whatever other inventive names they have for the stuff.
I got sick of it really quick. I don’t at all enjoy it when people approach me to convince me to buy things, and the fact that they were trying to sell me an illegal substance irked me even more. After a couple dozen polite refusals, my response of “No thank you” devolved to “Nope” and then finally to completely ignoring them. Enough was enough.
And then God convicted me. If Jesus was still walking the earth right now, these guys I was so annoyed with are exactly the sort of people He would spend his time with.
So I took a shot. Next time I was approached, I started a conversation. I got the guy’s name, talked about Nepal a bit, then asked why he was doing what he was. Turns out, he never wanted to sell drugs. He doesn’t like the job at all, but this is the only way he has available to make money and provide for his wife and two kids. He let me pray for him, and I asked for provision and protection for his family and to open an opportunity for a different line of work. Unseen? Unimportant? Untrue!
The Motorists
In India, it seems like everyone has the same question. Everyone wants to know where I’m from. People in the mall, people in the street, people in the market, they all ask the same thing. The strangest is when the question comes on the road. I’ll often be riding in an open-air tuk-tuk (the main mode of public transport here) and if we hit a red light, the person in the next lane will strike up a conversation. Yes, I’m from the USA. No, not California. Yes, I like your country. No, I’d rather not try to take a selfie right now.
At first, again, I found myself annoyed. The middle of the road is no place to talk, right? I don’t want to yell over the countless horns honking all around me. I’m minding my own business, so why can’t they?
Heart check again. People were always invading Jesus’ private space. He talked to people all over the place. People are important to Him, and he made time for them. So since Jesus would yell through traffic to talk to random strangers, I figure I can too. Who knows what could happen in one of these silly little exchanges? It would be easy to ignore these people, but they’re important in His eyes, so they’re important in mine too.
The Future Scientist
We went around visiting different houses the other night. At one house, I met a very nice little boy. He was ten years old, his favorite animal is a lion, his favorite fish is a blue whale, and his favorite bird is a pigeon or a peacock. When he grows up, he’s going to be a scientist so he can fly his UFO to Mars and meet all the aliens. It was so much fun to talk to a kid with so much spirit and a few crazy but awesome dreams. It was awesome to realize that kids here are no different than kids at home. I could tell this boy liked having someone who wanted to listen to him as well. We talked about computers and sharks and the ocean and his brother and his school and my age, and he taught me how to say “hen” in his language. He may have only been a ten year old boy, but I refuse to let him feel unseen or unheard. Not on my watch.
There are so many people who slide past my radar unnoticed. But slowly, I’m learning to notice those who go unnoticed. Talk with those who feel unheard. Encourage those who feel ignored. All people are valuable. All people deserve to be noticed and loved. So I’m doing my part to make it that way, one person at a time.
