But, unbeknownst to them, the true gift was from them to me, and there has been a much needed lesson in this experience. I have talked often about the impact of our actions upon others, but I now see the whole thing from a slightly different angle. That small change is a quantum shift in my understanding which I will carry forward for the rest of my life.
I have often remarked that we frequently fail to fully appreciate how what we do affects others. We act in self-interest, blindly going through life without a thought for what havoc we may be wreaking for someone else, often without even knowing it. The example we set, especially if someone has identified us as A Christian, is being observed, evaluated, analyzed and dissected. The judgments being made are largely out of our control, so we should be aware and do our best to be open to others, and to meet people where they are at.
I have always known all this. I have even acted upon it in my own life as much as a fallen human being can, sometimes with success, too often in failure. But I have considered it mostly from one side, that of the actor, not the audience, the giver, and not the receiver. I want to give to others, to share with them my gifts or talents, to show them the peace that comes from being a follower of Jesus. I want to be a blessing to them in whatever way they need it, because being a giver, a doer, is where I am most comfortable.
I have been thinking about how we like to talk about what Jesus would do in a situation, but we are always thinking of it as the actor, the player, the driver. We want to handle the situation in the same way he would, so we can ensure the desired outcome. And this is not a bad impulse, by any means. Jesus actively ministered, healed, listened, taught, prepared and loved, and he encouraged us to do the same.
But the other, less considered, side of the story is that he was also ministered to, healed, listened to, taught, prepared and loved by others. He took time to simply be, to accept the graciousness which was freely offered by others, and enjoy the luxuries that were occasionally poured out from the hearts of those who loved him. By humbling himself before others, he was blessed by what they could give him in return. It was a two way interaction, and in allowing them to come to him, to meet his needs, he was more fully able to meet theirs, as well.
Blessings, true gifts of the soul, go both ways. And it is a special joy to experience the healing love that comes from allowing yourself to be blessed by others.
This isn't always a simple matter. I have a rural Minnesota background, and we are not good at receiving. We will give until we drop, but we would rather die than put you out for so much as a cup of coffee. Being blessed involves taking a risk, opening yourself up to being gifted by someone else's praise, gratitude, and thankfulness. That can be hard, but it's good for everyone.
That is what has been impressed upon me in the last few weeks, both on a small scale, and on a national level. It is the interaction, the blessing of being blessed, that allows you to best bless others.
This past week, we have seen the power of nature rip through the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. They have been humbled beyond endurance, losing everything that meant something to them in this life. But in the midst of this devastating wreckage, we have also seen compassion, empathy, true ministry to both body and spirit, healing, leading by example (both for better and for worse, but each are valuable in their own way,) preparation, and love in equal measure. When you are down for the count, when the only thing you have left is what you are holding in your hand, the true person is revealed. And it has been amazing just how good it has been. There is a lot of goodness in the world, and it was all on display this past week.
Those who have lost everything still dropped what little they had to help someone even more desperate than themselves. Food, clothing, shelter, money and medical care are being rushed to the disaster as quickly as possible from places outside the area of impact as we all struggle to wrap our minds around the scope of this disaster. Volunteers are saving others while still not knowing the outcome of their own lives. It is heartening to see the divisions between us melt away as we try to cope with what is, in the final analysis, really important in life.
I have often said that we don't always see the outcome of our good works. We may never know the impact we have made upon another person. The impact of that moment may be life changing, with no chance to even say thank you. But both are blessed by the brief interaction, and both lives are changed forever by a simple act of humanity. It has been uplifting in a world that seems overwhelmed by hatred and divisiveness.
I have been uplifted personally in the last few weeks, as well, in ways no one but me will ever understand. The impact is much smaller, just one lost lamb rather than many, but no less important to me. It is not easy for this Minnesota girl to accept, but the gratitude of a small congregation has been an immeasurable gift of the heart which has humbled me deeply.
Blest to be a blessing is a bit of a cliche, but I have experienced it from another angle, and it is meaningful and true for me in a way it never was before. In sharing the gift God gave me, I have been gifted ten fold in return.
To get to the rainbow, sometimes you have to weather the storm. Allow someone to shelter you in your moment of need. It will bless you both.
