Often I've been challenged to step outside my "Christiany World" to go out and eat with the publicans and sinners. And truthfully being on a church staff where everyone within the walls I spend much of my time with is already a part of the Body of Christ, it's too easy to neglect this important role I play as a representative of Jesus on this earth. One thing I've done lately is being more intentional with the people I cross paths with throughout my day out "in the world". You know the people beyond the walls of my church and relationships. Instead of just thanking the waiter or waitress for bringing me another Diet Pepsi, I thank them and ask how they're doing. I NEVER want to be a person who sits with a group of fellow believers complaining about what I don't like about my church...or why it isn't ministering to me...or why it should be the way I think it should be to make me happy. I've been there before and was miserable. My desire is to take my eyes off myself and see people, the church and the world through the eyes of Christ. I'll never "arrive" in this thinking, but I can always challenge myself to stop being selfish.
Here's a post from Kem Meyer asking "What are you willing to do to learn about people who don't see things the way you do?"
"It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see." - Anaïs Nin
I pray and work on this as a spiritual discipline in my life. Let's just say, I never run out of real life situations that challenge me to look at things from somebody else's point of view. Sometimes I'm intentionally seeking it out. And, sometimes, it's a hard life-lesson I run into face first (like a brick wall).
Anyway, the quote reminded me of this print ad I saw...
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