Have you heard of the game Munchkin?
Basically, it’s a family board game that makes fun of Dungeons and Dragons. At the beginning of every turn each player “kicks open the door” by flipping over the top card from a draw pile. The card might be a challenge, like a monster the player must “fight,” or a reward.
As a fulltime support raiser, I’ve kicked down a lot of doors lately. I’ve entered and re-entered into the lives of friends and family. With each new meeting, it’s like I’ve thrown open a “door.” Often, I have no idea what I’m walking into. Sometimes the people are in high spirits. Sometimes it feels I’m meeting them at the bottom of a dark valley.
“How’s your day going?” I said to a friend joining me for coffee last month.
“Well… God is good. Today sucks.” He said with blatant honesty.
Moments of vulnerability remind me that we're called to everyday ministry. You don’t have to go overseas to be loving to neighbor. In fact, as Christ followers we're called to action.
Romans 12:9-12, also titled "Love in Action" states:
"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We're meant to be a part of eachother's lives, not just pass others by on the street. Too often we're so aborsbed with ourselves that we forget about everyone else.
When I was in middle school, a song by Brandon Heath called "Give Me Your Eyes" inspired me. Heath sang about the world around him. He asks God to give him His eyes, just for a second. He wanted to see people around him as they truly are, not the happy faces we put on for show. The song goes like this:
"All those people going somewhere, why have I never cared?
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see."
Not everyone we meet will be as candid as my coffee date. Few people have the gall to openly admit their day sucks, and even fewer will tell you about their lives unless sincerely asked. Let's stop walking by our nieghbor without a second thought. Instead, let's take a moment out of our days for our fellow man.