Acceptance and Love

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3, 4 NIV)

I was in the fourth grade when I my family moved from Canada to South Florida.  It was definitely a culture shock!  It was also in the middle of the school year, so I had no time to adjust before being thrust in the midst of my new peers.  It was difficult.  I talked differentlly and had trouble understanding their accents.  They laughed at me for standing at my desk whenever I was called on to speak in class.  They played different games on the playgound.

For someone who just wanted to blend in, I stuck out like a sore thumb.  Thank heaven for Tammy.  Instead of being afraid of me for being different, she was curious.  She walked home from school with me and asked me all kinds of questions.  She sat beside me at lunch.  She explained processes and rules as they came up.  She helped me enter into the games and groups on the playgound.

As adults, we still often fear those who are different and sometimes even label them as outcasts.  And when they enter our churches, it can even create conflict.  The best thing to do when someone we perceive as different comes into our church is to take them under our wing.  Be curious.  Ask them about themselves.  Take them to lunch after worship.  Explain worship (especially if they don't come from a liturgical background!).  Invite them into ministries and groups.

People usually seek out others like themselves.  It's not always the best thing to do, but we are comfortable that way, and we like comfort.  But sometimes circumstances thrust us into group of very different folks.  When someone different comes your way, whether in church or work or your neighborhood, try to remember a time when you felt different and someone mad you feel more welcome... and do the same.

Father,
You have made us all so different, and yet we are so much the same in our desire to be accepted and loved.  Help us to be accepting and loving in the same way we would want to be accepted and loved. Amen.