WARNING: I won’t win a popularity contest with this message!!
Can people be considered nice but cold? Maybe pleasant enough when introduced but mostly standoffish or distant. You know the type of scenario: “Hi, nice to meet you” and a fake smile that looks forced. The vacant look in their eyes that says they’re waiting for the 10 second introduction to be over so they can move on to chatting with ‘their’ people.
It’s awkward many times meeting new people, I get it. And it is perfectly natural to want to gather among your buddies to catch up and chat. I’m thinking about those times when we’re supposed to be greeting new people and (gasp) making them feel welcome. Oh, we’ve put out the obligatory coffee & donuts—doesn’t that scream ‘welcome’?
We’ll smile and say hello even. But to actually have a conversation and LISTEN to what they have to say? We don’t have time for this, right?
I’m probably not supposed to say this in polite company—but many times we’re just NOT INTERESTED in hearing a stranger’s comments, meeting them, welcoming them. We just don’t really have the interest or time to extend hospitality or warmness to others. We have enough to do, enough on our plate and no room for ONE MORE THING or person. Ever feel this way?
It’s that feeling you may sometimes get when a speaker puts out a call for help with something: a food drive, VBS helpers or nursery duty. Oh no…everyone looks down and hopes not to make eye contact. We’re not interested and don’t want to be bothered.
We don’t MEAN to be distant but we have a full plate. We have a boatload of things on our TO DO lists and don’t want the possibility of having someone else WANT something from us.
Maybe this is a chance to realign our perspective: instead of thinking of this is a one more person with one more demand…maybe it’s a chance to be a 20 second ray of hope to someone lonely. Just a sincere word may be the difference in someone’s life.
We all get disheartened when we hear of how the world portrays Christians and church people as hypocrites. Well….we speak of love and being the hands and feet—as long as we don’t have to truly engage ourselves in others.
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I know from personal experience that trying to break into an already established group or gathering is an uphill battle. Most people were polite enough to offer the basic smile but that’s where it stops. We’re told to volunteer & get involved-so we offer with no response. We join prayer groups only to sit alone and watch the rest of the group interact with their long time friends and nod in our direction as a greeting.
Imagine the 1st time church attender who gets up the nerve to walk into a church, seeing all the people gathered and chatting. Isn’t it wonderful to know that YOU made a difference just by offering a few seconds of attention to say hello & be sincere?
I’m speaking to myself as well here. I sometimes hang in the back of the room only to whisk away once the gathering is over. ‘Get away and move on’…but I’m challenging myself to open my eyes a little more this week. Instead of my turbo fast retreat away from everyone, I’ll try to be a little more open hearted.
If we all try this, wouldn’t the results in a lifted heart, even if for a moment, be far reaching?
Father, I pray for Your loving hand to open my eyes to someone You want me to see this week. Let them see You in me.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 1:8
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9
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Rob has preached a lot on this subject and you two are in perfect agreement. Sometimes we want to make the world a better place by doing something big when sometimes just giving a little attention someone’s way is what Jesus wants us to do.
I love it!
Loved this post. Tried being friendly and reaching out at two churches I visited
and received “fake” warm greetings so now I just watch sermons on TV every Sunday.