We had so much to catch up on, but the national events were heavy on our minds. So much to the point where we would comment how kind people were being to each other and to us, taking our picture to commemorate the occasion.
So Sunday morning, we were eating breakfast at the hotel. The lady serving us seemed a bit weary so we went out of our way to say "thank you!" and make jokes with her. After a plate of eggs and sausage, I wanted something sweet, so I went over to the cereal. I could not find a dish nor could the lady standing next to me- she was older than me, my grandmother's age; a black lady smartly dressed and with a cane. She spoke to me: "do you have any idea where the plates are?"
I said, "I am lookin' for the same thing."
Another person nearby directed us back across the expanse of the dining area.
Before I could offer, this lady said, "get me a plate, would ya?"
I said, "Of course! Do you want a plate or a bowl?"
"no matter!" she declared.
And off I went. I was smiling to myself. Heath's grandmother passed earlier this year. And my grandmother lives 6 hours from me. I found myself thoroughly enjoying being bossed around a grandmother-figure.
I returned with a bowl and she said, "Thank you so much! Thank you so much for your kindness!"
and I thought- that was no kindness really- I was right there- it'd been stupid of me not to get a dish for her as well. But the encounter did give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
On the way home, I was praying about these national events: the massacre at the gay club in Orlando, the shooting death of two black men by police officers and the killing of 5 police officers in Dallas.
It's so awful how we are all at each other throats and dividing our lives down different lines. And I'm wondering what my part in all of this is.... and I remember the recent sermons about the Woman at the Well....
John 4: 1-9 New International Version (NIV) (bible gateway)
Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was
gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was
not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went
back once more to Galilee.
Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town
in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son
Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the
journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to
her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the
town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a
Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not
associate with Samaritans.)
Right there- see what Jesus did right there? He called out
her worth. He said, "hey, can I have a drink of water?" And she said,
"uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh, whaaaaaaa? Dude, I'm a Samaritan and you are a Jew- why
are you even talking to me?" She could have said, "Uhm, I'm Black and
you are White- why are you talking to me?" In my case a black lady asked
me for a plate and I could have said, "But don't all the Black people hate
all the White people right now?" (for the record, I don't believe that- just
making a point here). This elderly black lady recognized my worth in that
moment.
Jesus took a chance and interacted with this woman and
showed her her worth. Further in the passage, her life is changed by His
crossing that cultural boundary and simply speaking to her.
Do we have chance encounters like this? Are there moments
where we can be intentional in our day to day encounters? We will have to look
for these opportunities. I think it's a practical first step. The second step?
I'm not sure what that is... but I'm looking!
