Photo courtesy of Z is for Zoe
So I spoke at a retreat a few months ago and shared on simple ways to love to the people around you. I had shared how I brought a pie over to a neighbor and endured a long 4 seconds of silence. The kind where you look at each other and wonder whether someone had pressed pause so as to enjoy the awkward moment just a little bit longer. The awkwardness stemming maybe from the fact that rarely do people really do anything for anybody with no strings attached. But we ended up developing a friendship and it's good to connect with more of my neighbors.
Well this one guy came up to me during the retreat and shared that he felt like God was telling him to buy a pizza for his neighbor. He said he never talks to his neighbors and they were the kind of people his momma wouldn't even want him to be around - chain smoking, fully tattoo'd up, the look of trouble.
I saw him tonite at Warren's show [Phonofield] and he told me that he followed through on what God was telling him to do. But instead of the pizza, he brought over a box of Marlboro's. Unopened, still shrink wrapped. He wanted it to be as "natural" as possible. So he bought himself some smokes, mosied on over... started talking, pushed his tongue a little harder... and said something like, "I had an extra box of cigarettes... thought I'd give 'em to ya."
The neighbor looked at him a little funny but took them and said, "I normally smoke Marlboro lights." My friend felt a little bad that he got the wrong ones, but nevertheless was glad that he followed through. A few days later he came out of his house ready to get into his car and he noticed that his car was wet. He looked around, saw his neighbor across the street. They came up to him and said, "We had extra soap and water from washing our cars so we washed your car too." And now each morning his neighbor gives him a little peace sign as he drives off.
Before this whole thing he had no excuse, no natural connection... and every reason to stay across the street, mind his own business, hold on to the bit of fear that keeps 97% of us from crossing the street, taking risks, building bridges. I've been reminded often that we don't always need to get it right... we need to get over ourselves and have a willingness to step out, and follow Jesus simply
Original source: http://eltonl.wordpress.com/?p=59
