Peopling
I often say my husband can only do so much peopling and then he is done. Ready to be alone… If you met him in his office or at a function you would think he was Mr. Extrovert. How-ya-doin’-where-you-from-so-great-to-meet-you. Then – “Jennifer, lets go home.” Ha!
Aren’t we all like that, though?
My kids are such a blend of my husband and I. One thing we all have in common, though, is our mix of introvert and extrovert qualities. We enjoy being with family and friends.
After awhile, though, you just wanna get in your comfy clothes and read a book (me), watch TV (my man), or play a video game (the boys).
I love how Jesus made us all images of Himself. If you read through Scriptures, you see the contradictions. So kind, patient, and forgiving, but then He is throwing the money changers out of the temples with whips. Preaching resurrection, but weeping over a friend’s grave. Saying the gospel is more important than even family, but ensuring John will care for his mom from his last painful moments on the cross.
God’s Word isn’t wrong because it contains what appears to be contradictions. Any more than I am a hypocrite because I call myself a people person, yet love to be alone also. Under different contexts, with different personalities, Jesus simply emphasized different parts of His divine character.
Paul understood this when he said:
“To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
1 Corinthians 9:21-23
We can’t expect our octogenarian patient to jump out of bed post-op the same way the millennial does. We can’t use Christianese language to share with our Muslim neighbor. One friend may prefer a cup of tea at the kitchen table to feel valued, while another is all about hiking at the nearby nature preserve.
Paul’s words are a reminder to me to meet people where they are. Just as Christ has done for me.
