Living It Out on the Street

I glide through the revolving door of the glass tower and step out into the sunshine and lunch-hour crowd. Glancing from left to right, I ponder my choices: burgers and fries, Chinese take-out, or should I venture down to Second Avenue to the real restaurants. Nashville at noon resembles a giant anthill; the small insects are busily scurrying about in search of food. Today, I am one of those ants as I run toward the intersection so that I don't miss the "walk" sign.

A man in a wheelchair holds out a flyer and mumbles something that I don't hear in my hurried dash across the street. I hold my hand up, shaking my head, as I reply, "No, thanks." I make it safely to the curb and continue my jaunt down the street. I glance over my shoulder and spy the man sitting at the intersection, head down, fumbling through his leaflets. I should have stopped to at least find out what he was handing out. I have an entire hour for lunch; what's the big hurry? I turn around and make my way back to him.

"Sir," I begin. "I want to apologize for not being more polite to you. I was in a hurry, but now I don't remember why. What do you have for me?" He hands me a flyer with some Scripture verses and sign language symbols, and he holds out a note which explains that he is a member of a deaf ministry. I smile at him as he gives me the flyer, and I hand him a five dollar bill. He smiles back, carefully places the money in his donation box, and then shakes my hand. I wave goodbye to him and continue down the street, no longer hungry. I just walk . . . and think.

The Bible teaches us to love others, and give to those in need. What seems to be easy to practice while in church on a Sunday morning becomes a challenge when out among everyday passersby. I feel a nudge in my spirit as I realize that I had just failed to live out my Christianity when presented with a real-life opportunity to do so. I ask God to forgive me and to open my eyes so that I don't miss any other occasions where I can live it out on the street. ~

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another" (1 John 3:11, NIV).

" He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses" (Proverbs 28:27, NIV).


Lynn Jacobs
http://www.lynnjacobs-christianlifecoach.colm/
www.blogtalkradio.com/lynn-jacobs


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