I was walking one day last month in the beautiful city of Kiev, Ukraine…I must say, I love that city!! I started thinking about where we had been up to that point and all our experiences. Suddenly it hit me and I wondered, “What is it that draws so many people to us? Why do so many people feel so connected to our team and get excited about us being in their country?”
I pondered. For a while. I was walking to our favorite coffee shop that had unlimited internet access…but I started walking slower. What is it?
I started thinking back to New Zealand to all the amazing people we met there. Then on to Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, all of Africa, and Ukraine. Why is it that in almost every single country we were so popular with everyone? A couple of thoughts came to mind:
Is it because we’re Americans?
Is it because we’re white?
Is it because we speak English?
Is it because we dress differently?
Is it because we smile a lot?
Is it because we’re just new to the area?
Is it because they think we’re rich?
What is it?
The more I thought about it I realized the nature of what we are doing. We all committed to go out into the world and spread the love of Jesus Christ. We all have Jesus in our hearts. We all want to see other people come to know Jesus. So, is that what it is? Are so many people drawn to a small group of loud, smiling, English speaking, white Americans because we exude Jesus? I want so badly to think YES!!! In some places I really do think Jesus shined so brightly that no matter what we did people would see Him through any of our crap. In other places, honestly, I think they just saw us as rich Americans who were there to give handouts. If they knew anything about us, they would know we aren’t rich…not by our standards.
It made me think a lot about how people perceive others. It made me think about why people like other people. Why do people like me? Have all the relationships I’ve made in the past 9 months been real? Have they all been about a hidden agenda? Has anybody really liked me for me? Hidden insecurities started to surface. I know, I’m not supposed to have insecurities becasue I’m supposed to be tough…whatever. I wondered how many true friendships I’ve actually made in any of the places I’ve been. I know there are several because we are bound by the fellowship of Christ. I would love to say that I have more friends and that I made some really deep and lasting relationships. There are a few. But one thing that I know for sure is that people all over the world have seen Jesus Christ through my teammates and through me over the last 9 months and they will continue to see Jesus for the next 2 and beyond. It doesn’t matter how people perceive us on the outside because Jesus is so much stronger and will touch their hearts from the inside. It took me a while to sort this out in my mind. I always want to believe that everyone likes me for me…I have to start understanding that sometimes people will like me because they see Jesus inside me. That’s so much more important!!! It makes so much more sense. Am I actually letting people see the Jesus that I love, the Jesus that is on my heart? Are they being impacted just by that? I truly hope so.
