God's plan is you

Mother Teresa reminds us, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." Who is your 'one'? You might not realize it, but that 'one' could be sitting right next to you today. When our hearts are open to hear what God wants us to hear and see what he wants us to see, we might just realize there are more 'needs' unmet in that person's life than there are met. Could we be the one to meet even one of those needs? If we are willing to put our own life on hold for just a moment or two, I believe we can become the hands and feet of Christ in a world that is hurting, lost, and oftentimes feeling like the battle has left them our on their own. 

Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

How can we develop this 'interest in the lives of others' that Paul is speaking of in this passage? I think it begins by us asking God to make us 'open' to really seeing and hearing each other - not through our own senses as much as through his eyes and ears. As we begin to fall into step with what it is he prompts us to do, we'll see lives changed. Meeting the needs of another may be as simple as that good morning hug, or a shared cup of coffee. It doesn't have to be a huge investment of our time, finances, or talents - it just has to be an obedient response to God's promptings.

We almost always 'hold back' some part of ourselves when around others - it is kind of like a protective mechanism for us. We don't want to be entirely vulnerable with everyone else, so we reserve part of ourselves in order to avoid getting hurt. If we realize this about others, we might just begin to look beyond the surface a bit by observing what it is they aren't really saying. Have you ever been around someone who uses a lot of sarcasm? They could be masking some pretty low feelings about themselves by doing so. Build them up and see how they respond. If they pull away immediately, their need may be to have someone love them for who they really are. God's plan may just be to use you to love them right into the safety and security of his arms. Just sayin!