The story...
One day, I saw my neighbor walking down the bike path. I remembered a picture of him with a 4' sturgeon - he caught it earlier in the week. I was riding my motorcycle so it would've been easy to turn around into a driveway to hear his story - the sharing would likely have been good for him and built up our relationship too. Even though I paused a bit longer than I would've hoped, my motorcycle came back and we strengthened our relationship.
Why was this interchange important? Maybe it demonstrated that: I was truly interested in him; shared in his unexpected joy, wanted to know the "fight" details; and that our friendship was important. It was all about him. It felt good to know that it was natural and true behavior on both of our parts. I wasn't "trying" to demonstrate interest and happiness along with him - I actually was happy for and interested in his life. That seems like good living.
I expect that my turning around to love on my neighbor as myself was "doing" who I want to "be." As I reflect on the reality of this simple situation - I'm so thankful for the changes in my life that've reduced my self focus and turned my eyes and heart more towards others.
There'll be happiness and joy within the community of the only church in town. They'll be a sort of organism that values each of their unique parts - they'll know it takes all of the parts of a body for it to function as He designed. Praise God for the Body of Christ worked out in the Light.
Just for today...
"Many a solution to a difficulty of my own has come to me while I was helping someone else." One Day at a Time (p. 304)
"I know me; Don't know you - Listen to learn; Build anew."
"Strong woven cord; Way beyond sight - Pullin out good; Leveraged might." Am I a Poet?
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