"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord..." -Hebrews 12:14
Last week, I parked my car in the lot behind my bank, and walked up the sidewalk to its back door. There's a series of three glass doors that I pass through to get to the bank lobby. It just so happened, that during this particular visit, when I arrived at each of the three doors (10 to 20 feet apart), there was a different woman at each door either entering or exiting herself...who actually held the door for me - three times!
Of course, I said "thank you" each time...but, I couldn't help but think back on the way I had been raised and how things had certainly changed since those childhood days. My parents taught me very clearly to "always hold (or open) a door for a lady"...ALWAYS. And, I have...always.
But now, ladies are holding doors for me! Maybe I look "old" to them...(I am now 62). Maybe I appear weak and frail? I don't know. But, the older I get, the more I sense constant change around me. It used to be that a woman would enter or exit a building letting the door close. Now they look around more to see if someone, anyone else, is in the vicinity...
"Pursue peace with all people...," the Bible tells us.
I agree. It doesn't really matter whom is being civil to whom...it really shouldn't matter that a woman might hold a door for an older man...in fact, it's great to model these civil courtesies to our children, someone else's children, or even other adults.
Simple civil courtesies provide each of us key opportunities to express Christ's love outside our usual close circle of friends or family relationships. I'm always kind and loving to those I love - those closest to me - and I know these persons also embrace my faith. But, when we're out in the community, only touching on the fringes of relationships with others...then our willingness to open or hold a door for someone, or stop to pick up someone's dropped car keys or pocket change, or just sharing a spoken "please" or "thank you" allows people to catch a glimpse of Christ in you and me. –By Jim Coleman-Hour of Power
Can you remember a time when you could have helped someone in a simple way, but didn't? What stopped you? Has it happened again? What's your favorite way to express God's love to strangers?
Last week, I parked my car in the lot behind my bank, and walked up the sidewalk to its back door. There's a series of three glass doors that I pass through to get to the bank lobby. It just so happened, that during this particular visit, when I arrived at each of the three doors (10 to 20 feet apart), there was a different woman at each door either entering or exiting herself...who actually held the door for me - three times!
Of course, I said "thank you" each time...but, I couldn't help but think back on the way I had been raised and how things had certainly changed since those childhood days. My parents taught me very clearly to "always hold (or open) a door for a lady"...ALWAYS. And, I have...always.
But now, ladies are holding doors for me! Maybe I look "old" to them...(I am now 62). Maybe I appear weak and frail? I don't know. But, the older I get, the more I sense constant change around me. It used to be that a woman would enter or exit a building letting the door close. Now they look around more to see if someone, anyone else, is in the vicinity...
"Pursue peace with all people...," the Bible tells us.
I agree. It doesn't really matter whom is being civil to whom...it really shouldn't matter that a woman might hold a door for an older man...in fact, it's great to model these civil courtesies to our children, someone else's children, or even other adults.
Simple civil courtesies provide each of us key opportunities to express Christ's love outside our usual close circle of friends or family relationships. I'm always kind and loving to those I love - those closest to me - and I know these persons also embrace my faith. But, when we're out in the community, only touching on the fringes of relationships with others...then our willingness to open or hold a door for someone, or stop to pick up someone's dropped car keys or pocket change, or just sharing a spoken "please" or "thank you" allows people to catch a glimpse of Christ in you and me. –By Jim Coleman-Hour of Power
Can you remember a time when you could have helped someone in a simple way, but didn't? What stopped you? Has it happened again? What's your favorite way to express God's love to strangers?
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