Dinner...

Is it sad that at 28 years old I've never been invited to dinner at a strangers home before? A lady from Church kindly invited me to dinner tonight and I am so nervous I feel sick. Hah. What a coward I am.

I've been thinking about my 'Christian family' a lot lately. It is true that when you meet someone and they find out you're Christian and they are too that their attitude changes. Somehow that common bond makes people feel a bit more relaxed. It's also true that even though we have this common bond we are still strangers.

I've always felt that while it's nice that being Christian will bring me closer to other Christians, that it's sad people aren't kinder to those who aren't in the 'family'. It's sad that they aren't kind to me until they know what I am. Sometimes Christian love doesn't seem to extend outside the family.

That's not always the case but it seems to be what I've experienced most often in my life. Part of the blame is on myself, I know that, because I'm an odd duck and people tend to run the other way when they run into a duck that quacks like a chicken.

But I've realized that I do it too. I'm more loving towards strangers whom I know share my faith. I'm more prone to trying to engage them in conversation, or even in a joke. I'm more likely to compliment them, or help them find a good deal in the store. It's funny how we often become the thing we dislike the most.

What was the point of this post? Just that I want to treat everyone, especially those who are NOT in the family, with love. We aren't here for those who are home, we are here for those who are lost out there in the world... we're here for those who are stumbling in the desert...

It's not all about me. The reality is I'm here to encourage others and it's about time I accepted my role.

Gracious God.
Take my hand.
Lead me home.
Amen.