Engaging in a Prickly World

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 ESV

It seems the world is a bit prickly lately. Perhaps this is my observation and it only applies to southwest Michigan, but for some reason, I’m thinking it’s endemic. Plenty of confounding reasons for humans to be wound a little tighter than days past, so many in fact, I am not even going to list them. You can find them for yourself by typing the letters “Daily News” into your favorite search engine.

It is possible to avoid the prickers by staying in, having your favorite items dropped by the overworked delivery person at the bottom of the drive or if you are feeling really friendly, by the front stoop. You can take walks and limit your interactions to a quick wave from behind your dark glasses, earbuds firmly planted to avoid any conversation past “good morning”. Perhaps a ride on the bike trail, keeping your words to “on the left”, as you peddle faster to avoid any further acknowledgement that the person you did just pass is in fact, human.

It’s a crazy world out there.

I am not criticizing. I am actually describing to you my life, my inclinations, my preference. I am after all, an introvert. And what is more comfortable for an introvert than being an introvert?

Recently I went into a store and proceeded to the counter to pay for my items. The young lady who was helping me requested my phone number, which I politely (or at least I thought was politely) declined. Three times she asked and three times I replied, “no thank you”. After the third time, she rewarded my declination by refusing to look at me for the remaining period of our transaction, but was willing to take my one hundred dollars, which was the amount of my purchase. I, in my favorite pink, “Choose Kindness” tee, feigned a smile, reminded her to have a nice day and promptly left the store. As soon as I walked out the first set of doors, my mind went here, “well I am never going into that store again, I can take my money someplace else”.

Yes, I was still wearing my favorite pink “Choose Kindness” tee.

I should have given her someone else’s phone number.

I should have ordered my purchase for delivery.

This is a minor example, but is this not the environment where our feet have landed? It’s prickly out there. We are having to wait for things we’ve never waited for, the store shelves are running a little low, and the whole mask thing is starting to sound like fingers screeching across a chalkboard. It may be best to just stay in.

But dang it, there was Jesus leaving His perfect home to land in the midst of our messy planet, loving on people who weren’t a bit lovable, or clean, or even healthy. Probably some were even a bit prickly.

Peter seems kind of prickly to me and definitely Matthew, a tax collector, probably asking everyone for their phone number (and their money). And there’s me, Jesus loving on prickly me.

I don’t believe we are intended to stay in, not even the introverts among us. We know Jesus was an introvert, always going off on His own to be away with the Father. Not uncommon for the disciples to be chattering amongst themselves and then all of a sudden, “where is Jesus?” Oh, He’s just off recuperating by Himself again.

But He didn’t stay in and He didn’t stay by Himself. He kept going out to be amongst the people. He saw them, He touched them, He listened to them, He loved them, even the prickly ones.

How does this apply to us and our ever contracting world driven by personal pricker avoidance? Let’s start with some no brainers, just as examples.

Church…who doesn’t like the option of “worshipping at home”? In our pajamas, with barely combed hair? I mean, it’s kinda nice, who are we kidding? And, let’s just put this out there, there is no chance to have your feelings hurt, to feel like an outsider, to not belong. Is it just me, or can church not feel like the loneliest place on the earth? The writer of Hebrew’s directs us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV). I think he (the writer) knew it would be hard to meet together, to engage and have relationship. So he writes to encourage us.

Within our families…it’s easy to live in the same space and not engage. Our children have calendars, and cars, and rooms with doors. It’s just quieter if they do their thing and we do ours.

Workplace…remote working has its perks. I know this, I just traded 25 years of on site working for a career that happens behind a set of screens. It feels like someone threw me a lifeline, extended my exhale and made a full time job a sustainable proposition.

Within our neighborhoods…I mean who wants to know all of those people? And they are moving in and all around in masses. My favorite, run in and out orchard was a parking lot party this weekend. Music, donuts, overpriced pumpkins and so many people. Can’t a girl get some apples without trekking half a mile through parked cars?

Jesus…man is it easy to stay away from Jesus. Stuff to do, social media feeds to check, distractions running rampant, plus, all these prickly people. We’ve got to spend time talking with someone about the prickly people and Jesus isn’t going to want to hear about that. Busy.

Let’s unwind our way to the top of the list.

Jesus…we are going to need a lot of Jesus to be a little salty (and not a prickly kind of salty) in the world. John writes, “Whoever believes in me, the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow streams of living water.'” (John 7:38 ESV) We can’t skip out on Jesus without putting our “Choose Kindness” tees to shame.

Within our neighborhoods…there are real life people living in proximity who have real life things, that need to be real life seen, and heard and loved. We’ve been planted, located, and set, for purpose. That beautiful phrase in the book of Esther, which applies not just for Esther, but for all Christ followers, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV), is a reflection of how purposefully God places His children.

Workplace…if you haven’t been in the workplace for a while, let me tell you, it’s overwhelming. Short on staff, short on product and customers short on patience. There is an energy that erodes the demeanor of even the most stabilizing personalities. You are going to need plenty of Jesus if your day includes a full shift out in the workforce. But what better environment to demonstrate your confidence in a God who provides for His children in the wilderness? What better environment to live differently and love on those who are desperate for something that isn’t constantly shifting?

Within our families…if you think the world is prickly now, fast forward 20 years when our children and grandchildren are steering the ship. They need us. Maybe open the doors, sit down for dinner, collide the calendars for an evening. Talk to them even if the only response you receive sounds a bit like a holy grunt.

Finally, in the church…maybe just do the difficult thing and go. A friend once advised me to watch for those who need to be seen rather than trying to be seen myself. Jesus has a knack for seeing the unseen, we should too.

If it seems the writing is a bit preachy, know I am preaching to myself. Relationships are difficult for me, I like a tidy, controlled life as much as the next person. I am wondering though, if we aren’t willing to be the salt, who will?

I am going back to that store. And I will wear my favorite pink “Choose Kindness” tee, for personal accountability reasons.

“You are the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:13 ESV