Selflessness, Interviews, and Naked Taxi Cab Drivers

Matthew 5:40
If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

A couple of years ago I had joined my husband on residency interviews as he was looking for a place to land a job after graduating from school.  Usually the interview process is really intense, full of questions, conversations, and a whole lot of professionalism.  The dress code is top notch, suits and ties are a must- and even ties of a certain color.  You never want to stick out too much, or blend in too much.  


But through that entire process, I heard a story that changed my life.  A story that I will never forget as long as I live.  

At one of the interview dinners, we met a young man who had just completed his 2nd year of residency.  He was grateful for the opportunity to be at the hospital that he was currently working at.  And he told the story of the person who made it happen.

A couple years ago as he made his way down the interview trail, there was a snow storm that delayed his flight into Baltimore.  Due to that delay, he had to switch flights at the last minute in order to make it to his interview the following morning.  Fortunately, he did land.  Unfortunately, he landed at 2 in the morning...only to find that his entire luggage had been lost- tie, suit, shoes, and all.  


On his way to the hotel he was making some frantic phone calls in the taxi, trying to make contact with friends and family to think of a way he could avoid showing up at this interview in a sweat suite (a sweaty one, at that!). 


He reached his hotel to no avail, discouraged, tired, and feeling quite helpless.  As he got out of the cab, the taxi driver got out with him, and began to undress!  You can imagine the reaction of this student- unsure to what was going on.  


"I want you to have my suit", he said, having overheard his conversation from the driver's seat.  


And he proceeded to strip down to his boxers, giving the young man his shirt, suit, tie...and even his shoes.  


The young man was humbled, embarrassed, and amazed at the generosity of this complete stranger.  He gratefully took the suit, with tears in his eyes, and hugged the taxi driver goodbye.  

Just hearing that story changed my life.  

I was so challenged to really consider what message I am sending with the way I live my life.  We as Christians talk about being thankful and grateful during this Thanksgiving and Holiday season.  Thank you Lord for what you have given me, thank you Lord for all of your blessings...while clinging on tight to our belongings and being selfish and self-absorbed.  Turning an eye to the poor and needy, and living in our little bubbles of blessing.  What is the point of thanks-giving if we hoard our blessings to ourselves?

I was so challenged by the heart of this taxi cab driver- who was so willing to go above and beyond to meet an immediate need...though it was the need of a complete stranger.  This was the heart of the taxi-cab driver, what then should be the heart of a Christian, of a follower of Christ?

Does my life reflect that kind of heart?   This is my challenge this holiday season...to step out of my bubble of blessing and actually do something with what I have been given.  To hold it with an open hand, and to live with an open heart.  May you be challenged to do the same. 

Go to Jail: This Ain't No Monopoly Game

^{Matthew 25:31-46
37} “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 
   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I've felt a twinge of dissatisfaction lately.  Don't get me wrong, I love my life right now and the stage I am in as a wife and a mom- and I am enjoying every moment.  But deep inside of me there has been an aching for something more.  A desire to take my life a step further and align myself with the things that God is for. 


In the past my husband and I have spent time on a weekly basis serving in the inner city, going door to door with the Dream Center and investing in lives of the poor and needy.  But, things change when a baby comes around.  I don't believe that I grasped that concept until I was finally face to face with the gigantic responsibility of being a parent.  The things that were practical as a couple, are now complicated in light of a family.

And though some may say that being a parent and doing God's work do not coincide, I disagree.  There must always be a longing in our hearts for the things God longs for.  Ministry must always be a part of our lives, though it may take different forms with each season of life.  Though it may not be practical to walk the inner city week after week with the demands of a little baby, that doesn't mean that the disciplines of service and mercy must come to an end.  But how?

This question was reinforced last night as my husband and I watched a documentary by my favorite comedian, Michael Jr.    In this film, Comedy: The Road Less Traveled, Michael  decides to take the talent God has given him- his humor- to some of the most broken people in America, attempting to bring a smile to some of the saddest faces.

The movie is touching, but more importantly it is a call to action.  Michael challenges each and every one of us to take a look at our lives and the talents we have been given, and ask ourselves how we can practically make a difference in the lives of others. 

For me, this film was confirmation of something I have been feeling for a while now- it's time to do something more.  

I've tossed around a few ideas in my heart the past few weeks, but there is one thing I keep coming back to: prison.  There is something about the pain and isolation of these hurting men and women who have made life-changing decisions that just breaks my heart.  And the reality is, they are so easily forgotten in our "out of sight out of mind" society.  I'm planning on taking at least one day out of the month and finding a way to encourage and visit these people, hear their stories, love on them, and allow our lives to touch.  I'm excited to see how God uses me in this way, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on my journey. 

Some of you may have your opinions about this type of ministry or these kind of people, but I don't care to know them, because that's not the point of this post.  The point of this post is to challenge each and everyone of you to take a look at your lives and ask yourself what you are doing to follow the heart of God?  Because at the end of the day what makes you a friend of God is not the fact that you attended church every Sunday or owned six bibles.  It's your heart...and whether or not it is aligned with His.

Because at the end of the day, whatever you do (or don't do) for the least of them...you do it as though it were for Him.   That's nothing to be taken lightly.

Real Hunger, Real Purpose:

John 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

I met a girl young recently who was plagued by the question of purpose.  Her spirit was hungry for something more, something more than this life was offering her.  She found herself waking up in the middle of the night with an aching desire for something deeper. 

On the one hand, it’s sort of strange that this need for purpose haunted her in the middle of the night.  But on the other hand, it makes sense.  The middle of the night is when our minds have kicked into slow gear.  When things are finally still.  When the distractions have died down and the noises have subsided.  There, in the quiet of the night, her spirit was finally heard crying out that it needed something more.

I believe many people can relate to that longing.  We all want to find meaning in this world.  We want our existence to be validated.  Our souls are hungry for purpose. 

Jesus understood this hunger, a hunger that supersedes the physical.  A hunger that could only find satisfaction in one thing: doing God’s work. 

John Chapter 14 describes a scene where Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman.  A woman who had experienced the injustice and maltreatment of her society.  A woman who was considered a cast away and whore.  A woman whose own sin had buried her deep into the pits of shame. 

The disciples were so distracted by their physical hunger, so distracted by the “noise” of their stomachs growling that they missed the true feast at which Jesus was partaking.  Jesus was offering love to one who had not known love.  He was offering life to a woman who had been dead in her sins.  He was doing the will of His father; He was feasting on food that would satisfy.

What about you?  Are you feasting on the food of God’s work in your life?  Are you focused on living a life completely sold out to God’s will? Do you find yourself satisfied and your spiritual appetites satiated with His love working its way in and back out of your life? Or are you still hungry?  Are you still longing for more?

Maybe you so distracted by the physical growling of your earthly stomachs that you are missing the hunger pangs of a whole new kind of feast.  Maybe you are ruled by the longings for the material rather than the spiritual. Maybe you find that if you are really honest with yourself, you discover that your purpose has become blurred by the tangible. 

It’s time to take a real hard look at ourselves and ask if we can wholeheartedly proclaim that we are satisfied in nothing else…but “doing the will of Him who sent [us]”. 

This is real purpose.  Feast on it.