How Do I See Others I'm Tempted to Overlook?
You don’t need to travel far to make a difference. The opportunity to reflect Christ’s love is right in front of you—at work, in your neighborhood, and in your daily routines. The question is, will you take it?
On my way home from work one night, I realized my gas tank was nearly empty. I sighed, knowing this meant stopping at a run-down gas station in a rough part of the city. As I reluctantly pulled up to a pump, everything was as I expected—the place was unkempt, the trash cans overflowed, and abandoned cars sat by the pumps.
I scanned my surroundings, wary. The only thing missing was the usual homeless person offering to pump gas for change. That was what I most wanted to avoid. Maybe I’d get through this without hassle.
But just as I stepped out of my car, a voice immediately behind me made my heart race. Somehow, I had overlooked him.
Thin, scruffy, and unmistakably homeless, the man asked if he could pump my gas. He said he was hungry and needed money. Sure, I thought sarcastically, you just want it to buy food. With a few curt words, I sent him on his way, avoiding eye contact. There was no doubt in my mind he was just looking for money to feed his habit.
As I pumped my gas, I watched him from the corner of my eye just to make sure he didn’t do anything crazy. I saw him walk up to one of the overflowing trash cans, rummage through it, and devour some food he found without hesitation.
At that moment, a pang of conviction hit me hard. I had chosen to label someone as insignificant for whom Jesus would have stopped and seen.
