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This blurry photo is of my friend Melanie.
We were celebrating her 22nd birthday and I was picking up dinner to celebrate.
I parked, and got out of the car. I walked past a woman who was seemingly speaking to me but making no sense. I kept walking, avoiding eye contact.
The food was taking way longer than expected, cause well, ya know. Island time. I was trying not to feel inconvenienced and probably not succeeding.
I came outside because I may have parked illegally and left Melanie in the car.
When I came out I saw Melanie kneeling down on the ground speaking with a homeless man who I had previously walked past.
We were picking up Melanie’s birthday dinner.
We weren’t on a scheduled outreach.
If there was one night that you could definitely justify not doing ministry it might be your birthday celebration dinner.
But it’s not about that for Melanie. Melanie doesn’t see loving people as her job, it’s just the overflow of her life.
She doesn’t pray for people compulsively feeling like she HAS to do it either.
There’s no anxiety in it, just peace and compassion.
There’s no flair of pride, as in, look at me. She would have done it if no one was watching.
Because she’s not doing it for approval from anyone.
She knows she’s approved of by her heavenly Father through Jesus, and she wants others to know that too.
Dang. I’m humbled. Challenged. Thanks for giving me such a gift on your birthday Melanie.
Hang out with people that do the stuff. Not for an audience. Not for show. Not out of an anxious earning or because they should or have to. But because they’ve been transformed by love.
Love crosses uncomfortable and inconvenient barriers.
