I didn’t get to choose where I was born nor did you. It isn’t something anybody gets to choose but it is probably the biggest thing to impact our life.
The last meal at our ministry in Panama was something called a missions dinner. That’s when they do a themed dinner based on a country or kind of ministry. This particular one was designed to show the differences in how people live and eat. There were 18 of us divided into 3 groups: 2 were served a multi-course meal at a fancy table, 4 were seated at a table and served pizza and soda, and the other 12 sat on the floor surrounded by twigs and trash as they were served rice without any utensils.
I was in the middle class group. We looked at our pizza, took 2 slices each and then counted to see how many slices were left. We cut some in half, so there would be plenty and then took the rest over to the “poor.” We decided to sit with them too. Some of them even shared their rice with me! (I love rice and was actually sad that I wasn’t served some.) The two people who were upper class for the night were allowed to share a little bit of their food but in the interests of making it realistic, didn’t share much or stay long before returning to their table.
As we sat on the floor surrounded by trash that had literally been pulled out of the garbage for this event, we had an enjoyable meal talking with each other. The only downside was that the person serving the poor kept heckling them and us for sharing with them. I know she was just playing a role but it made me think of how many times I had heard similar comments in my hometown. And God whispered again, “are you willing to see?”
On this night I saw the “poor” because they were in the same room and my friends. But how often have I not seen them? Or chosen to ignore those in need because they weren’t my friends? Do you see them? Do you pretend you don’t because it might be uncomfortable or looked upon unfavorably if you interacted with them or to treated them with dignity?
I know my personal answer to those questions far better than I would like to admit and it isn’t pretty. Yes, I’m on a missions trip but it isn’t because I wanted to help people. It’s because God said go and I gave a reluctant yes. But even that can be and is being used by God. The important thing is I said yes. And so can you. You don’t have to travel to make a difference in someone’s life. You just have to be willing to say yes to God and He will bring opportunities to you. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that when you say yes, God opens up your eyes to the opportunities that are already surrounding you.
So I challenge you to say yes to God and be willing to see. But more than just see, I’m praying that you will be able to perceive and understand and then act with boldness and power.
