Care Worthy of Sacrifice

Do you ever have those moments when an author writes a word or phrase and it just jumps off the page at you and sinks deep into your mind? That happened to me recently. I really think it was a God thing.

I firmly believe that God's hand is on everything. This includes even authors who do not profess Christ. It includes fiction. It includes the man pumping gas next to you who says or does something that makes you pause and reflect on God. It's the woman in line at the bank or a song where lyrics grab you. Truth: God can use anything to point to Himself.

Recently, I was reading a book called Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Honestly, I have no idea where Ms. Cashore stands in relationship to God. I do know that it is a non Christian, teen fiction book.

I also know that a passage took my breath away.

Katsa and Po both live in a land where "graces" sometimes manifest themselves. These graces give the person unusual abilities. They also set the gracelings apart in very difficult ways. Through a series of events, Katsa and Po end up on a rescue mission of sorts. As they are fleeing with Princess Bitterblue to safety, Po makes the decision to stay behind. Katsa is left to care for Princess Bitterblue alone. The weather is freezing and Katsa has some doubt that she can get the girl to safety.

But there is a moment of decision on Katsa's part. Ms. Cashore writes, "Her care of Bitterblue must be worthy of Po's sacrifice."

This rephrase jumped into my head. "My care of others must be worthy of Jesus' sacrifice."

Jesus didn't stay behind. But He did sacrifice himself for us. And then He went on ahead, leaving his mission to the world to a ragtag band of disciples and ultimately to me and you. He leaves the day to day, physical care of others to us.

Katsa's grace helps her brave the elements and mountain lions. Jesus graces helps us brave this world. Katsa focused on getting Princess Bitterblue to safety. It was her primary concern. What if our focus, my focus, was getting others safely home? How would that play out in day to day interactions? Would I take the best for myself or leave the best for someone with more need? Would it keep my words in check so that I only built others up? Would it impact how and where I used the finances God has given me?

I hope that it would. But I know that I am a work in progress. Still, today, I hope my aim is to care for others in a way that is worthy of Jesus' sacrifice.

When I Cannot See You

Yesterday, I went to grab a few groceries at Meijer. I scouted out the shortest line and hopped in, planning what to do next. I had a few things on my agenda and was feeling somewhat rushed. I perused the magazines and then as the clerk was finishing with the man in front of me, I piled my groceries onto the belt.

Then I heard, "Your card has been declined."

The man ran his card again and punched in his PIN. It was declined again. He was starting to get flustered. I was starting to get irritated. He said that he didn't know what his wife had bought. Apparently, they had a limit on their debit card. He pulled out his cell and called his wife. The conversation went back and forth. He got more flustered. I got more irritated. He got off the phone saying, "I hate getting yelled at for something that isn't my fault." He used a credit card and it went through.

I got a little more irritated. If he had the credit card all along, why hadn't he used it right away? Why had he continued to waste my time as well as the woman behind me with a long drawn out drama of calling home.

Last night, I was talking with a few people about how invisible clerks are. I was thinking of some of my interactions on the other side of the counter at Barnes and Noble. I said, "Part of it is that we just really get focused on ourselves." My statement settled into my heart. I had been so focused on me and my time earlier that day that I totally missed the man in front of me. I missed the embarrassment he obviously felt. I missed the tension. Instead of seeing with grace, I only saw that he was holding me up.

I confess that I cannot see you or anyone else when I am only focused on me. That probably happens too much.

So, today I am praying that God would help me really see those around me first. Will you join me?