Hey Everybody!
I just want to share a little food for thought that I’ve been thinking about a lot the past few days. The other day I was riding a bus through the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica. I honestly wish you could have been sitting in the seat beside me to take it in as I did. It was so picturesque, the colors of the landscape so vibrant. I couldn’t sleep or let my eyes wander from the window view. I just wanted to take in every bit of the beauty before my eyes.
As we began to pass by a farmer’s field I saw two men standing with their farming tools behind the thin lined wire fence. They were just standing there, maybe taking a break. I kept my eyes on them as we continued to drive closer, one of them wearing a striped shirt. I noticed that they were acknowledging our bus roll towards their place along the road. In that blink of a moment I wanted them to know they too were seen, just as they had seen us in this big bus. As we began to pass them I just simply raised my hand to the window and waved. Just as simply, in return the man in the striped shirt waved back.
It was this beautiful exchange! It hasn’t left my mind since. Very simply, our acknowledgement of one another was so striking. It left me contemplating, why do we as strangers sometimes acknowledge one another? Why do we so many more times ignore one another on the sidewalk?
In all that contemplation, God brought me to this: acknowledgement of others is the simplest chore He could ask of us.
To see and to be seen, just as the Father has written it to be.
How much greater He sees us and in return we share the gesture with others.
This should go on and will go on in my life throughout the remainder of my days. I will answer God’s request to see others and to acknowledge them. I will choose to wave, to smile, to open the door, to pick up the tab, to help carry the load and above all else pray for those around me.
As I’ve continued to sit in this perspective of being seen by God and seeing others, I’ve been pulled back to two scriptures. One, The Parable of the Good Samaritan found in LUKE 10:25-37 and The Sheep and the Goats MATTHEW 25:31-46. In both of these passages Jesus is distinctly referencing that it is our job to see others as He does. He sees them as a beautiful part of His creation JUST LIKE HE SEES EACH ONE OF US.
Sometimes I think we’ve missed it as a generation, as a culture.
What if it isn’t a chore to stop what you’re focused or working on to acknowledge another? What if we choose to recognize the “regalo”, the (Spanish word for) gift, of what we’ve been asked to do? What if we saw it as an opportunity to actually get more out of our life? What if it was actually the shortest path to living our best lives? Would you put in a little extra effort to get a lot more out of life?
Anyways, that’s all for now. I’m working on a ministry update and will send that out as my time in Costa Rica comes to a close.
Love you all!
Sav
Vannie, You are wise beyond your years. Your writing is wonderful and your thoughts are magical. You, my sister, are a spiritual leader. No degree can make a person a great pastor, minister, preacher, priest, etc.. it takes heart, compassion, faith and the love for Jesus and your fellow humans! All any of us want in life is to be acknowledged. A smile, nod of the head or a wave, simple gestures go along way. Or even a wink, from those blue eyes, I miss your winks my friend. My God’s love surround you and keep you safe!
Peace and Joy,
Ann
Ann, you know your words are always so encouraging!! Love & miss your sunshiny face & spirit!! Xoxo
Thanks Katie!!
This is beautiful. I love your eyes to see the Kingdom of God everywhere! 🙂
Definitely food for thought…and a challenge to take action to be intentional about noticing others, looking at them, and acknowledging them..