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Make 2020 about People
Make 2020 about People
Don’t misunderstand. God always comes before people. The greatest command is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:38). But “the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (22:39). I’m not suggesting we make 2020 about people over God, but about people because of God! It’s touching to see Jesus’ constant focus on people. Pay attention to Jesus’ eyes in the Bible. Notice how much He “sees.” “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” (Matt. 14:14). From atop a mountain, Jesus looked down at His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, “seeing them straining at the oars.” (Mark 6:48). “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.” (John 9:1)
On vacation, I went to Popeyes (don't judge), and for 2-3 minutes stood awkwardly at the front counter while the whole staff had their backs turned to me. They were busy working, but didn’t even notice me. I didn’t mind the wait, I just wanted to be seen. Even if they said, “We’ll be right with you,” I’d be happy because that tells me, “We see you sir. We care.” I get it, that’s a trivial example. It’s just a chicken sandwich. But what if our brethren feel that way about us? What if your children feel that way about you Mom and Dad? Longing to be seen, but staring at the backs of people too busy to notice them?
At our core, we all want to be seen. We want people to see us, to notice what we’re going through, and to care enough to take the time to help. Jesus did that all the time. He still does. Here are some practical ways to make 2020 about people. 1) Don’t isolate. We need alone time. Jesus did too. But sometimes we isolate simply because it’s easier. Why not put the book down or turn the TV off, call up a friend or a brother or sister in Christ and go grab coffee instead? 2) Learn how to have a conversation. Sometimes people isolate because they don’t know how to talk face to face in this digital world. Go to Youtube or Amazon and you can find hundreds of books/videos on improving conversation skills. 3) Put family before finances. We need to support our families financially, just make sure they don’t feel like I did at Popeyes. 4) Pick up the phone. I’m always amazed by how appreciative people are to get a phone call or a text message. It’s not much, but it says, “I see you and I care.” 5) Put down the phone. Some people never pick up a phone; others never put it down. Be fully present for the people in your life. 6) Remind yourself what’ll matter in the end. It won’t be the TV shows we watched or how far we advanced in our careers. It’ll be the people we’ve seen and been seen by.
