They’re real people too.

 

“I want to go to Greece.”

The surface of my heart mustered up the courage to voice this when conversation directed towards dreaming again.

Through some processing,
in the most real, honest, sincere place in my heart I said
“I want to go because they’re real people too.”

The conversation continued and it bounced from one rabbit trail to another,
but that response still rattles in my brain and shakes in my heart.

They’re real people too.

At the end of the conversation,
I realized that it’s not necessarily about what’s happening in Greece;
because if I’m going to be honest I want to do ANYTHING in another country.
My heart longs to to be a part of something bigger,
to be a part of something that I’m able to see the fruit in right away.

As I processed through the conversation,
one of the what if’s I mentioned still continues to haunt me,
“what if the only thing I ever do is invest in relationships here in America for the rest of my life, would I be okay with that? Is that enough?”

It hit me that I’m missing something important,
the people in front of me that I’m given the opportunity to invest in today.

The reason I mentioned I wanted to go in the first place was because the people in Greece are real people too…
but what about those people that I talk to every day?
What about the woman behind the counter at the coffee shop?
What about that face I pass by on the street… are they not?

I love to love, it’s my favorite thing,
but I never want to magnify something in another country for a reason that I’m capable of doing today.

Through months and months of barren work behind a computer, I finally saw the fruit;
I traveled to Guatemala and led 16 of the most amazing men and women whom I’ve come to love from the deepest part of my heart.
I witnessed them love on the kids at the orphanage.
I watched them play and love on the kids at the Mayan village.
I listened to them pray bold prayers.
I’ve watched as they took charge in leading prayer, activities, and ministry.
I’ve seen the Lord show up in their lives.
I facilitated an activity and watched the Lord bring them to tears because of the encouragement they received from the Holy Spirit through one of their teammates.
I’ve seen it and I’d be so naïve to pass that by and say it wasn’t enough.
It was enough, more than enough.
But it took hours, days, and months of being behind a computer to see that come to fruition.

Tonight I’m encouraged;
because the love I want to give away in Greece, Thailand, Malaysia, Guatemala, or anywhere around the world, I can give away in America to the people I’m surrounded by every day.
I realize once again that they’re just as important, just as real and just as deserving.

This may seem obvious to some,
but I think it’s easy for me to look at the things happening somewhere else and think it’s more important because there is quick tangible need being met.

I think I’m slowly coming to realize yet again that there’s something real and honest that happens when we’re patient and invest in the people we’re surrounded by and meet the needs they have.
Through time, I think that’s when we’re not only able to see the change in another person’s life, but even our own.
it’s in those pressed moments when we give so much time and energy to another person and continually see fruitless labor for months or maybe even years;

then that rare occasion finally presents itself where we’re able to see evidence of God’s goodness in their life and they’re never the same.
Those moments can change one’s heart and induce ones faith.
Those moments are the moments worth living for.

It’s selfish to give the work I’m doing less credit than it deserves,
I’m giving other people the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves,
the opportunity to be a part of the Kingdom in a tangible way, just as my heart longs to do and be a part of.
I send missionaries out everywhere around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
These experiences give them a glimpse of His heart.
And that’s my job.
And though it’s not obvious right away, its Kingdom.
I don’t think Jesus is too concerned with how quickly the fruit happens, he’s more concerned with the heart and with relationship.

Maybe you’re in a similar position as me;
you made a commitment and you can’t exactly pick up and leave your job to be a part of the ministries in need.
But take heart, dear friend, because you can minister to those around you,
you can invest and love them just as you would elsewhere.

Don’t forget about them,
Jesus loves them just as much and they’re worth the time that you’re willing to give.