To Wave or Not to Wave?

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:1-2

On my way to do school pick up I pass a couple crossing guards as I pass I wave at each of them. One of them waves enthusiastically back and the other does everything she can to not look towards me. She seems almost afraid to wave.

The art of waving to others seems to be fading. There used to be a time when waving and smiling at others was common. A train would go by and we'd wave at the conductor or at the amusement park when the tram or train would go by we'd wave. Someone standing on the corner a simple wave. What has happened to this art?

Are we to busy to notice others? Are we scared to make a connection? Would a smile and wave hurt that much?

Showing hospitality to others, seems like a simple thing. All it takes to begin is a wave and a smile. Sure driving in my van seems like a safe place to wave from, it doesn't involve talking just a wave as I go by. Would I have the courage to wave and smile as I walked by? Or would I do everything I could to avoid making a connection?

Sometimes my shy side gets the better of me I turn into the one who does everything I can to avoid looking at others. Sometimes it's easier to not connect rather than showing that brotherly love. My prayer is that I am able to open up and show God's love to everyone I meet.

No More Excuses

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation...1 Corinthians 14:26

Believe it or not there was a time in my life when I didn't spend so much time at church. I would chose to sleep in on a Sunday morning instead of getting up to go to worship. My schedule was pretty crazy.

My husband and I each worked full time plus we delivered newspapers in the middle of the night seven days a week so that we could help make ends meet. So on Sundays we would get all the extra sleep we could. It was a tough schedule and we thought it would be alright not to worship.

There are always excuses we can come up with to not do something:

It's my only day off
I don't have money to give
It's my only day to sleep in
We have company
I need to clean my house
We have a sporting competition

You get the idea.

What if Jesus made excuses?
I'm not going out in the crowds today, it's my only day off.
Forget about going to the temple, I used my last denari on groceries.
No miracles today, just need to sleep in.
My company won't understand that I need to teach on the mount today, so I'm just going to stay home with them.
I can't possibly raise Lazarus today, I need to clean my tent.
No being sacrificed today, I need to be there for the team.
Good thing, the king of kings didn't make excuses.

The time we missed away from worshiping with other believers made our life difficult. This was the time of our lives the money got so bad that we almost lost our house. I barely prayed, I would say "God is Great" and "Now I lay me" but hardly a conversation with God.  Of course my choice in things I did were not the greatest. Good thing I fell on my knees and got back to where I belong with fellow brothers and sisters praising and learning about God! No more excuses.