The story...
Yesterday, I saw my neighbor walking down the bike path by the side of the road. I remembered the picture of him with the 4' sturgeon that he caught earlier in the week. I was on my motorcycle so it would've been easy to turn around and pull into a driveway and 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, was pleased with his unexpected joy, was interested in the details of the "fight," asked how he felt as he wondered what it might be, and demonstrated keen interest during the whole conversation. 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 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 my neighbor as myself was "doing" what 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 focus on me 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)
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