Fragile Humanity

I held the items I was purchasing tightly in my left hand while clutching my preschooler tightly in my right hand. The line at the checkout was moving at a slow pace. I noticed that the next lane had a much shorter line so I thought to move over. As I attempted to move, I felt an inkling in my soul to stay put right where I was. So stay put I did.

Within a moment I became aware of the reason for my inkling. There existed an individual at that checkout that my daughter- in all her preschool innocence- would have most likely peppered with a personal and awkward line of questioning. Children possess the keen ability to ask aloud the questions that an adult would only internally ponder.

The inkling- that keen sense I experienced from Jesus’ Spirit to stay where I was- wasn’t to avoid my own embarrassment or side-step an awkward situation with my daughter. It was about the stranger in the other lane. It was about preserving the dignity of another soul.

Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Never one to cause humiliation nor shame, the Holy Spirit gently works God’s truths into our very being. One of these great truths is for us to act in love towards another as an extension of our love for Christ. And the preservation of another’s dignity is an act of great compassion. When Jesus stood before the woman who was to be stoned for adultery, He cast down satan’s attempt to cause great humiliation. When He casually sat down to rest beside the Samaritan woman at the well- engaging her in conversation- His presence was a shield reflecting satan’s attempt to shame.

When we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit we possess the most unique ability to see others as Christ does: human, and worthy of dignity no matter who they are or what their struggle may be. For as I am looking at somebody through Jesus’ eyes, I am desperately praying that that’s the way they’re looking at me.

Father, as we do unto the least of these, we do unto you. Please help us to see fragile humanity through your spiritual eyes, and always remember that some days we are the least of them all. Amen.

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