Invading Our Space

Pam and I often traveled through Leipzig using public transportation. I often found myself watching other people, wondering what they were thinking and where they were in their lives. There are unwritten rules in Europe for riding on the streetcar, bus or train. You don’t smile because people might think you want something. You don’t speak to others because it is a sign of weakness or worse. And you never sit next to someone you don’t know if there is another seat available. It seems that we are programmed for isolation and loneliness. We don’t want strangers invading our space.

I Will Never Forget

I remember sitting behind a young man who was traveling with his 6-year-old daughter. They carried on an intelligent conversation for several minutes before I got up the courage to say something to them. His side of the conversation showed love, concern and genuine respect for her. He met her where she was, talked to her on her level. I was so impressed that I had to break the infamous “public transportation rules”. I told him how impressed I was to see how he communicated with his daughter, how he did not speak down to her, but listened with genuine interest and met her on her level. I will never forget how his face beamed.

We Must Be Encouragers

We seem to find ourselves in a time when discouraging words are abundant. Social media is filled with negatives, with hate speech, with divisive rhetoric. Political turmoil has made us into a people divided, a people who think it is ok to cut others down, belittle them or criticize their views. God’s people should be encouragers. We must be encouragers and shine the light of positivity, love and grace to all people!

It can often be so simple to say an encouraging word that can change the course of the day! Can we learn to be better listeners and speak only when we have something encouraging to say? These words from scripture are not a suggestion, Christian brothers and sisters, they are a command. We have been commissioned by Christ to bring blessing to the world!

“Do not let unwholesome (foul, profane, worthless, vulgar) words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak.” Ephesians 4:29