Can I tell you what breaks my heart?
As a community and society at large, many of us have
become so detached from our spirituality and humanity
that we can no longer sit in proximity to people with
whom we disagree, dislike, or are different from us. The
the worst part is many of us are so easily offended by “the
others” that we refuse to compassionately listen to
different points of view and, at worst, lash out when our
perspectives are challenged.
Have you ever considered if you shifted your proximity
and sat with others- truly took the time to actively listen
and have an authentic conversation with someone who
challenges your perspective- you may be able to see
beyond your own biases?
Seriously, ask yourself this question: Am I willing to sit in
proximity with “those people”, “the others” who challenge
the very foundation I have built my life upon? And, if the
answer is no, ask yourself what you can do about it. Or,
better yet, pray and God will reveal the answer… or even
shift your perspective.
We- every single one of us- come from different walks of
life, therefore our perspectives of the world and even the
Gospel will inevitably vary. Furthermore, the best Gospel
is not always taught from a pulpit and is instead lived out
loud. To give an example, my family and I have spent our
entire lives in a community where we were undeniably
raised with different beliefs and customs than our
neighbor. Despite our obvious differences in
perspectives, one day a neighbor changed their
proximity to us and chose to get closer to our ethnically
diverse family. We were different from them, yet they
extended love and built a relationship with us. Through
these loving actions- our neighbor choosing to challenge
themselves and challenge us- we found a loving church,
which led us to Jesus.
This is a community that is based on the foundation of
Jesus Christ, Our Savior. But do we agree on absolutely
everything? Of course not, nor do we need to. In
church communities, there is a strong misconception that
we need to be 100% ideologically aligned in all of our
beliefs. This is simply impossible and unrealistic. Yes, I
understand hanging out with like-minded people,
guarding our hearts, and having discernment with those
to whom we connect. I am for all of these things,
however, I have also discovered within myself these
things stem from an inherent need for comfort. God
hasn’t called me to be comfortable. He has called me to
be the hands, and feet and be an ambassador for Jesus
here on Earth. Jesus has given me and YOU the great
commission, which requires YOU and ME to GO out into
the world, challenging ourselves and others. (Mark
16:15-18)
Can I, or better yet God, challenge you to Sit In Proximity
(SIP) to the broken-hearted; to those who’ve been
betrayed; to lost souls; to those ethnically different from
you; and to those who have different perspectives,
beliefs, and customs than you? Are you willing to be
comfortable with being uncomfortable?
Let’s give it a try and, through the grace of God, SIP to
each other. You may be blessed in the process or, better
yet, a blessing to someone else.
Comments