Be aware of your surroundings.

I am a pretty friendly outgoing person.  I could pretty much talk to anyone at any time and at least have a somewhat enjoyable conversation or at least have an entertaining story to tell all of you but last night was different.

I was with a group of people who were not the same denomination as I am.  My assumption has always been that we are pretty close in our way of thinking but after my experience I'm pretty sure I'm wrong.  I have had my eyes opened and I have learned the valuable lesson of what not to do to others.

I went to a place where I knew no one and most everyone else knew at least a few of the visitors.  I would try to make random conversations with people and it would go no where.  I've had it happen before so at first it was no big deal but then it became blatantly obvious that these people were more than happy to converse with the ones that they knew but with a stranger?  Oh by all means they would not give a stranger a moment's thought.

What a horrible feeling this was!  I felt like an outcast!  Not one smile came my way.  I would not even receive a simple response to my attempts at conversation just blank stares or eye rolls!  I kid you not!  These people were supposed to be Christians!  I have to tell you that if this is what the world sees when it comes into our churches then they have never been introduced to the love of God!

The Love of God is refreshing.  The Love of God is forgiving.  The Love of God holds no grudges.  The Love of God meets you where you are and loves you just the same!  No matter what you look like, no matter what you have done, no matter what God just Loves you!

I am thankful for my experience last night, I truly am if only for the lesson to be aware of my surroundings.  To always look for the person standing alone.  To always put myself aside and seek out those that might be hurting more than myself.

Every day that you walk around in the world you are given the opportunity to love.  It can be a smile or a hello or holding a door open for someone.  Take a second, slow down and look around.  How can you be a blessing to someone today?  It doesn't take much.