Disturbing the peace

I recently stopped at a traffic light, waiting for the green to lighten up so that I could get to my destination. And quickly! As I waiting, the view of the many street vendors wandered towards my car. Even with the work I do, instincts die slowy. I was about to wind up the window, until I realised that I could start up a conversation, or just say that I was sorry but could not buy his wares. I kept the window down and from this movement, we started a conversation. It was a quick one, but one of acknowledging the person as someone real, and not an entity that is locked away by our closed window. But what hit me the most is what he said as I said goodbye.

His words were "Sorry for bothering you."

Sorry for bothering me? I drove through the intersection onto my next road of travel feeling extremely taken aback. Almost as if I felt incredibly emotional for him. This was a man who tried to sell his goods every day at the same traffic lights, and all he wanted was a smiling face, a small chat....recognition. How hard is it for you, for me, to show that. It could be a similar person as I met at the traffic lights, it could be a car guard, it could be someone you pass on the streets. This is something that sometimes has been ingrained into people's minds. And this is something we have the power to break. Humanity is everyone. God made EVERYONE in his image. Not just the ones that make us feel comfortable, the ones we don't have to put a lot of time into, the ones we feel safe around.

God made all of us in His likeness - we need to try and grasp, understand and take steps to change the mindset and love the unlovely, the broken, the needy, the orphans, the needy. This is our mandate. May we be the ones who "bother" the people who need it. Reach out; life is not only about us.