The church service ended….
A few people lingered…forming small groups as they talked with friends…
A volunteer walked the aisles, picking up programs and anything else left behind…
With his eyes focused on the floor, he didn’t see the two men until they were standing next to him…
“We’ve been watching you during the whole service,” said the older man.
“I just got out of prison. My son served time, too…”
“We saw your shaved head and all the tattoos on it, and I said to my son, ‘I’ll bet he got those on the street or in the joint.’”
The volunteer was quiet…
He was tired of people making quick judgments about him based on his appearance.
How should he answer?
It would be very satisfying to glare at the man for a moment and just walk away.
He looked down at the floor and back up at the man.
“No,” he said, “I’ve never served time.”
“I’ve been sick a lot…cancer and some other things…so I’ve had a lot of surgeries…”
“I survived a war in the military…”
“I shouldn’t be alive today.”
“That’s why I have the tattoos of the cross. I owe everything to Jesus…”
The man was silent for a moment.
“I’m so sorry”, he said. “I looked at you and judged you without even knowing you.”
Tears formed in the corners of his eyes.
The volunteer held out his hand…
“I’m Andy.”
The man took Andy’s hand … “I’m Tom.”
“My tattooed head and Christ”, said Andy, “brought us together…..”
A chance meeting?
A coincidence?
Or an encounter arranged by God?
Perhaps an encounter in which God taught a couple of lessons…
One about judging others…
And another one not so obvious…
A lesson about how we should act when God gives us the opportunity to honor him…
We will be offended or threatened by what someone else says or does in those moments?
Will we pass on the other side of the road like the priests in the story of the Good Samaritan?
Or like the Samaritan… and like Andy…will we extend our hand?
And in that simple act, reflect the love of God…
1 John 4:7 … for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
6 thoughts on “Sharing God’s Love”
What a heart warming story. Too often we judge people by their appearance. I’ve learned that we need to know the story behind the story.
Very True! Thanks for your comment…
Great thoughts. It’s amazing how the Lord provides opportunities when we tune our ears, open our eyes, and bring to a God a willing heart to be used by him.
It’s amazing, indeed.
What a heart touching story! Sharing God’s love is not always an easy thing to do, For me, our actions and how we respond to other people’s criticism and judgement is one of the ways we can reflect God’s love and without much words show people what God is like(loving, forgiving). I’ve learned never to be offended at what people say about me, but as hard as it may seem, try to extend a loving hand to them.
Thanks Bob for this beautiful reminder. And I found you at Christian Blogging Hub [Tee2Media] Community.
God Bless you richly.
Not easy, indeed! How often I respond out of a effort to justify myself rather than from a surrendered heart!