THE TWENTY BUCK LESSON. . .

I have not read everything AND I have read a great deal.  I continue to be intrigued by indigenous cultures (e.g. the Iroquois Confederacy experienced more than 300 years of peace among those in this broad and diverse confederacy).  There are a number of commonalities among the indigenous cultures that existed thousands of years ago.  Here are two that continue to give me pause and I find myself reflecting upon ‘modern’ cultures and upon my own attitudes and behavior.

First, indigenous cultures often welcomed the stranger.  Some ‘vetted’ strangers before they allowed them into the village – a few well framed questions usually sufficed.  Some simply opened their doors to the stranger – no questions asked.

Second, the food that was available was shared.  Even if there was meager fare it was divided so that each person received some (reminds me of the loaves and fishes).

A number of years ago I walked out of a store and was greeted by a man I judged to be homeless (a bit of profiling on my part).  He looked down as he approached.  He stopped about 10 feet from me (I interpreted this as a sign to me that he was not a threat).  He did not look up.  He then spoke: ‘My friend and I have not had a thing to eat in more than a day; there is a ____________next door.  If you give me some money we can get something to eat.’  He did not look at me.  He waited.  Many reasons passed through me as to why I should not give this guy money; I was – still am – surprised at how quickly they entered into my consciousness.  I paused.  ‘O.K.’ – I said to myself – ‘This guy is obviously running a scam – just look at him. . .all humble and everything; he has his routine down pat.’  So I decided to reward him for his ‘act’ and I held out a twenty dollar bill.  He stepped forward, took the twenty and then he looked up at me.  His eyes were full of tears.  I found myself tearing up.  No words.  He then turned and ‘yelled out’ – ‘We have money for food!’  An older man appeared from around the corner and together they bounded into the fast food place.  Even as I sit here this morning, once again remembering this incident my eyes are tearing up and I am thankful that I did offer the man some money for food.  I also feel sad because I was not able to welcome the stranger – I was not able to trust him or myself or the ‘universe.’  There have been times since then that I responded with more care, empathy and compassion as I encountered a stranger and there have been times when my harsh judgments motivated me to turn away (or ignore the person or ‘look’ through the person).

I claim to be a follower of Christ.  ‘And when was it that [I] saw you a stranger and welcomed you? . . . ‘Truly I tell you [says Christ], just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Who are the people in my life that I welcome easily and who are those that give me such pause that I have to stop, step-back and reorient my heart in order to welcome them as I would Christ?  How many times a day is my heart challenged in this manner?  What are my deep assumptions, beliefs, prejudices, stereotypes, attitudes and values that lead me to be hesitant and fill me with reluctance when it comes to welcome those I dislike, ‘fear’ or want to avoid?