Bump

It was at the Good friday service. The crowd was slight and Molly and I were seated and waiting for Jamie and Jenn to drop the kids at child care and join us. Someone came and sat in the seats that were being held for the girls and I nodded that they were taken and I could see it on her face,as she stood up and left, that I had seriously hurt her feelings. But why, I didn't understand.There were seats behind and in front and the worship area was far from being crowded. So at church, on Sunday, I saw her and apologized with all sincerity. She said no big deal, that she had already had a tough morning and that was just a sensitive spot. What was a sensitive spot? I still did not understand, and I really wanted to know, so I pressed harder for an explanation because I did not want to do this ever again to someone else. The final explanation was she had felt bumped, again.

How different her day would have been if I would have said, "come sit next to us", without a seat between. And isn't that the way God would have wanted me to handle it. She was alone, I was flanked by daughters. It was a real nudge to me to be more careful and more inclusive, and more sensitive to others rather than to plummet on my own agenda. I am sure I must unconsciously do that often. We are a big family and take up most of a row, and seldom do I include others. Maybe out of pride, out of possession or just maybe out of comfort and enjoyment.

We don't know why folks are sensitive in one situation or another, what experiences have left them vulnerable, but we all have
at some time or another been that one who was bumped. Bumped from an invitation, from a group, from an activity, from a
conversation etc. And it does feel lousy, and lonely and hurtful. This happens to our kids but it also happens to adults. We are not immune to disappointment brought on by being bumped or by not having a rightful, designated inclusive spot. The acts are many times unintentional, as this one was but nevertheless, I instigated a pain in someone and I felt awful. It might seem like a little thing but isn't this what the world is made of....the little things.

But as I was thinking this through, I was reminded that I will always make mistakes and there will always be oversights in my judgment and decisions, but God never bumps me out of his watch. He never says go elsewhere, or there is no room, or chooses one over another. And with him, his chambers are never too crowded, or His provisions limited. We can sit close or watch him from afar, but he is always inclusive and yearns for us to be with him and walk beside him.

The point of this writing is to say, be inclusive, as God is inclusive, as often as you can. I thought about my girls and they would have been just fine sitting one row in front or in back, and they would not have thought a minute about it. It was me who had the mindful plan and me who would not let go of my own agenda, and I did it without consciously thinking that it would be at the expense of someone else's feelings.

We are called to love one another. We are given many opportunities to show that love. And that "love one another" thing comes in many forms, great and small. We have choices that we consciously make regarding that. I hate it when I look back and know that a situation could have been so different if only I would have responded differently. It is over and done but the lesson lingers, and I hope will continue to linger.

Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

People may forget what you said, and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou

Don't you find that to be true? We don't forget how people make us feel, be it good or bad. When we are centered and focused on Christ and what he has done in sacrifice and example on our behalf, how does it make us feel? Pretty special indeed. So I contend that if and when we get bumped or consider bumping others, it might be to our great advantage to consider first, Christ, and the bump that he endured for our sake.

Dear Lord, Help me to be one of your messengers who helps people to feel loved, not lonely, encouraged not discouraged, appreciated not neglected, and one that matters and who is not forgotten. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!