Mr. Honey, the American missionary we met in Botswana told us that a lot of people have the Impala Syndrome. If you have been to Africa or been on an African safari you will understand. There are SO MANY impalas in Africa. Impalas are pretty much African deer and when you are on a safari, you see a lot of Impala. As you are looking for animals, you see something moving by a tree and you get really excited! Maybe it is a zebra, or a baby elephant, or if you are lucky maybe a lion! But then as you drive closer it is only an impala and you are disappointed because you have already seen about a hundred Impala, so you put your camera away and keep looking for something more interesting. A lot of people have the “Impala Syndrome,” but instead of Impala, substitute, let’s say, elephants. We asked Mr. Honey if seeing elephants now is not really special anymore and if he is just used to them (because Mr. Honey has been in Africa for years now and he sees elephants on a daily basis). He said no and he said that if he starts taking elephants for granted and becomes numb to them, he misses beauty. He misses God’s creation.
Now let’s substitute people for Impala. Oh, it is just another person. They aren’t special. They are just 1 in a crowd of 7 billion. But to God we are not just another Impala. We are not just another person in the crowd. When you see and meet people, don’t just disregard them as another Impala. God placed that person in your life for a reason. Love them like Jesus would love them.
As my good friend Katie McGuire was preaching one Sunday, she was talking about John and how he refers to Himself as the discipline that Jesus loves. Upon reading that, we may ask ourselves, how does John have courage to say that about himself. “The disciple that Jesus loves.” John is making a very bold statement. But then, when we think about it, he really isn’t. What if each and everyone of us sees ourselves as “the disciple Jesus loves.” What if you felt God’s love for you that strongly that you were so certain that you were the disciple that God loves. John is not making such a bold statement after all. Although we are just one in 7 billion, God loves you so so much. The more time we spend with Him, resting in His presence, and listening for His voice, the more we will know and feel His unconditional love for us. To God, you are not just another Impala. You are the disciple that Jesus loves.
