Obviously, I was doing it right. I grew up as a Christian, went to a Christian university, found a Christian guy and dreamed about having Christian babies…
But I had an ego about it. Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I was often referred to as an example of what a Christian should look like. Some people wouldn’t appreciate the spotlight – they’d want to rebel and run away, but I loved it. I enjoyed the attention and affirmation I got from my place of importance in my church.
I went into college with my head held high. I figured I’d learn a little from my Bible classes. I’d enjoy sharing the word to “the least of these” as I studied abroad. I made a mental note to fit in a mission trip or two.
Wow, was I humbled. (Aka, I was embarrassed, ashamed, awkward… all of the above.)
First of all, what I learned from my Bible classes is how little I actually know. See, the Sunday School answer put you on the walk of shame here. I quickly learned to shut up.
I went to South Africa and learned that I was going to save no one with my “Romans Road/Come to Jesus” speech. In fact, I envied these people I thought I’d save. They had a deep and rich love for people and for their community. Many of them loved Jesus. They shared everything with me. And I stood there dumfounded and snapped some pictures of them and their houses.
And on my mission trip to Egypt, I saw people marked with the symbol of Christianity in their clothes, hairstyles, ID cards and wrists. They stand boldly in the presence of persecution from their neighbors. My mission to save and teach became a mission to encourage, love and mainly learn.
Coming out of college, I learned is that I was doing this whole thing wrong. Oh, plus lots of other stuff that gets you a degree.
I also came out of college with a guy.
And not just a guy. A good one. One of those guys that you don’t think you’ll actually get in life when you’re dating those other guys that are obviously not The One.
I learned so much from him in this time of being broken. And now that I’m married to him, the lessons are never ending.
See, he approaches life with humility. He doesn’t flaunt his achievements or brag about his talents. He doesn’t update his statuses to sound funny or change his profile picture to make him look cool. What? I don’t do that either…
He just lives life. He works really, really hard. He finds good people, whether or not they’re his age or tax bracket or race or religion… he finds them. He hangs out with them and buys them a beer and is an actual friend with an actual friend’s agenda: nothing.
And over time when they get to know him, they’ll probably find out he’s a Christian. Because when they’re stuffed in our little apartment eating dinner in our dining room/office/laundry room, they’ll see his bookshelf and ask him what’s up with all the Jesus books. Or when they’re going through a hard time they’ll call him, because Christian or not, when people are going through painful times, they appreciate a listening ear and someone who actually cares.
What I’ve learned the most from him is how to love people without an agenda. How to work hard when no one is looking. To love anyone and everyone, throwing aside the perception it gives to onlookers.
A passage of scripture that I love but that freaks the crap out of me is where the Lord sorts out who truly loved him and those who didn’t. My prayer is that I can stand in the sheep’s line right behind my husband, dumbfounded, asking the Lord this question:
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
With love from Pleasanton,
Paige
