I learned a lesson at the DMV…several lessons, in fact. The first, and least important, was that one should schedule an appointment before going there. When I entered the building, at 9:15 a.m., I saw a notice advising patrons to make an appointment. Using my phone, I went online and secured the next one available, for 9:45 a.m. While I sat, waiting for my time, I heard a young Latino couple approach the desk. They were told that if they did not have an appointment the wait would be 3 hours. They sat down. I knew there were appointments available sooner than 3 hours, so I offered to help them. They used my phone and were able to get an appointment within 30 minutes.
Still waiting, the same scenario played out again, this time with a middle-aged, Latino gentleman. He struggled to figure out how to make an appointment with his phone so, again, I offered to help. Like the previous couple, he used my phone to make an appointment within 30 minutes. I felt pretty good about the experience until I realized that I had missed an opportunity to use Christ’s name. I brought light to those peoples’ lives but did not share its Source.
How to do that? What sequence of words could I use to let people know that it is Christ’s love they feel, not mine; that I am a nice person because of Him? Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." How do I let my light so shine in a way that glorifies God? Every sentence I composed in my head seemed awkward and laborious; something that would taint the experience rather than sweeten it. The good works I got. The glorify God, not so much.
Then I went on a field trip to the Mars Desert Research Station where I got some extra-terrestrial inspiration. I rode with Brent Hughes, father of one of my students and an all-round great human being. In the course of our 4-hour, car-ride conversation, I mentioned my dilemma. Brent said that his daughter, Maddie, says simply “Jesus loves you.” Perfect.
“Jesus loves you” is the sentence for which I was searching. Simple. Sweet. Strong. Said after an act of service, it will identify the Source, inviting conversation but not forcing it. PERFECT.
Jesus loves you. And so do I.
Still waiting, the same scenario played out again, this time with a middle-aged, Latino gentleman. He struggled to figure out how to make an appointment with his phone so, again, I offered to help. Like the previous couple, he used my phone to make an appointment within 30 minutes. I felt pretty good about the experience until I realized that I had missed an opportunity to use Christ’s name. I brought light to those peoples’ lives but did not share its Source.
How to do that? What sequence of words could I use to let people know that it is Christ’s love they feel, not mine; that I am a nice person because of Him? Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." How do I let my light so shine in a way that glorifies God? Every sentence I composed in my head seemed awkward and laborious; something that would taint the experience rather than sweeten it. The good works I got. The glorify God, not so much.
Then I went on a field trip to the Mars Desert Research Station where I got some extra-terrestrial inspiration. I rode with Brent Hughes, father of one of my students and an all-round great human being. In the course of our 4-hour, car-ride conversation, I mentioned my dilemma. Brent said that his daughter, Maddie, says simply “Jesus loves you.” Perfect.
“Jesus loves you” is the sentence for which I was searching. Simple. Sweet. Strong. Said after an act of service, it will identify the Source, inviting conversation but not forcing it. PERFECT.
Jesus loves you. And so do I.
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