Lesson learnt from a coach ride

Last week, I had a long coach ride home. I'd been staying with lovely friends and had an almost 6 hour journey ahead of me. I just wanted to get on the coach, put my headphones in, and sleep! I made sure I was at the front of the queue so I could choose the seat I wanted. We boarded the coach and I found a comfortable seat and sat down, putting my bag on the chair next to me in the hope that no one would sit there! Anyway, the coach began to fill quickly with travelers and soon enough I had someone sitting beside me. I leant into the window and stared out, making sure there was enough space between me and my neighbour. 

As the man sat down, I got a whiff of an unfortunate smell, it was a hot day, and maybe he had run to catch the coach? I continued to stare out of the window, not wanting to make eye contact as I didn't want to talk! He then pulled out his paper stretched it out so it was over the imaginary line, you know what I'm talking about the "don't get in my personal space" line! He then proceeded to read the articles in the paper out loud! I knew this was going to be a long ride home. I turned around and scanned the rest of the coach to see if I could find an empty seat, but it was filling quickly. As he turned the pages of his paper his bare arm brushed against mine. I was not impressed! I was now pressed so hard against the window, trying to keep my personal space MY space. The coach driver set off and we were on our way. I had a talk with God, "Seriously, God? I asked You for a seat to MYSELF, so I could relax, enjoy the journey, read my book. And now I'm wedged up against the window like a sardine". No response. Five minutes into the journey, the man pulls out a huge road map, you know, the ones we all had in our cars years ago, before we used sat nav. So, he gets this map out and starts following the route, looking at every sign out of the window and then looking at the map! It was not the journey home that I had hoped for. About an hour and a half later, we stopped and some passengers got off, I made a run for it and quickly found a seat by myself. Finally, I could relax and breathe, I was happy. A few moments later my heart felt so convicted, my attitude had stunk [more than the mans armpits]! I was so concerned about ME, and MY journey. And I didn't even have the decency to say hello or smile at the passenger sitting beside me. I felt so irritated at myself that I had let my needs and wants dictate to me. I was being selfish and I wasn't even being polite to another human being, someone who is just as valuable as me.

The thing is one of my desires in life [and it has been for many years] is that I would love the unloveable, touch the untouchable, and reach the unreachable. There have been many times that I have done that. I love people. I've grown up in a home that is always open to people, those who are marginalized and rejected by society. Our home has been filled with people from all walks of life, all issues of life, different cultures, backgrounds and religions. But, I don't want this to be just a testimony at different 'times', I want it to be my life, who I am, all the time!

I realised, as I was now sitting in my comfy seat, that I had missed an opportunity to show love and kindness to another. I don't believe I needed to talk with him the whole ride home, or join in with following our route on the map! [although I'm sure it would have been interesting]. But, a simple hello and a smile would have been enough. It says, you matter, you're important, you are welcome, you are not a face in the crowd, but you have value and you are cared for. It's amazing how we so often forget the super simple stuff. I believe that it's the really simple things, like so simple they are easy to miss, that are the most powerful. 

We have an opportunity every day to show kindness to others. If we are going to love people and care for humanity we have to be prepared to have our lives interrupted. People are messy, annoying, irritating. They have issues, need help, need love, need care, need attention.

If we are going to fulfill the great commission that God has entrusted to us, we will have to step out of our comfort zone and allow our lives to be inconvenienced for the sake of someone else.

Maybe your kids schedule will get changed, maybe you'll have to set your alarm clock a little earlier, drive a little farther or spend a little more money? Maybe you'll have to sit next to someone you wouldn't choose to? Maybe your phone bill will be a bit higher, or your dinner preparations increased?

I want to love the unlovely, touch the untouchable and reach out to those who are down trodden and forgotten. So often we think it's homeless people who are forgotten about. But quite often there are people in our families, our streets, our workplace, our churches, who have been forgotten about. Who need a friend. They need to know someone cares. 

Send a text, write a card, cook a meal. Do something to bless someone else. Talk to someone, smile at a stranger. Say yes rather than no. Invite that person into your home

Jesus stepped out of His comfort zone, He left the comfort of Heaven, to redeem a broken humanity. He touched the leppers, spent time with prostitutes, had tea with tax collectors, washed feet, served food, and had time for everyone He met. He was JESUS, the Son of God. He was busy, everyone wanted His attention, He got tired just like us, He needed time alone with His Father, just like us, but He never let His own needs and desires stop Him from reaching out to others. He was never too busy for people. He made time for others. He embraced people and He never stopped loving.

We all have responsibilities in life, and families and to do lists etc, I'm not suggesting we neglect those things to be at other people's disposal. I guess, my heart has been stirred again for humanity and I want to live a life that blesses those in my world, and those I come into contact with. I don't want to live 'me focused'. I want my days on this earth, which are so short in the light of eternity, to be a blessing.

I'm sad I missed an opportunity to show kindness to the man on the coach, I've prayed for him since, and I'm also grateful for that little experience as it was a reminder to my heart why I am on the earth.

It's not about me, it's about Jesus and others, and connecting the two! And, I believe that is ministry and that is our mission.

That was a pretty long blog, mostly my ramblings, but I hope it's encouraged you to look outwards more rather than inwards.

Be blessed :-)