Engulfed: What will it take to get your attention?

I met a neighbor of mine today. Not a new neighbor, in fact my husband and I walk past her house only a few doors down several times weekly. Before today, we’ve just smiled and waved and kept on about our business. But this morning, I met my neighbor in the most unfashionable way. I met my neighbor at 5 a.m. as I handed her a pair of shoes for her bare feet as we watched her house burn. It was then that I hugged this person and prayed with her and her husband, it was then that I met these neighbors. Afterwards, I retreated to the crowd of neighbors who gathered and watched the three houses ablaze. I was so grateful for a house to return home to, while feeling majorly guilty that my daughter slept peacefully in her bed and things were so tidily tucked away in my home when others so close in proximity were having their lives turned upside down. Three families in my neighborhood are displaced due to their homes quickly becoming engulfed with fire; one family watched their home burn completely to the ground and lost their dear pets in the process. Why did it take this event for me to actually stop and talk with my neighbor? Why do we become so engulfed and overwhelmed with our “To Do” lists that we are so distant to others? I believe the answer lies within the fact that we are a reactive society.

What do I mean by reactive society? We have resorted and settled to taking the back seat and being reactive to others, rather than be proactive in their lives. We busy our daily lives with so much that it often takes a drastic turn of events to get our attention. When isn’t there a task requiring a moment of your time? When do we start a day with the intention of solely blessing someone else, rather than check off our busy to do list? I am SO guilty of this. I have been working on clearing my schedule recently in order to slow down and enjoy life while being available to serve others in the process. I thought that staying home with my daughter would allow me to do just that. However, I found that my days become busied with task after task. I took on a work from home business that does very well but requires every second that is not spent with my daughter. I also took on many other projects and tasks, both inside and outside of my home that further overwhelmed and dictated my schedule. Finally, my spirit screamed, “It’s too much!” My sweet husband asked me to let go of some of the things on my to do list so I can enjoy these days and moments with my daughter, and with him. And he’s right to do so! I heard a pastor preach a sermon on truly loving others recently. How can we love others more? How can YOU love others more? Call me crazy, but I don’t want to be the type of person for which it takes a catastrophe for me to give of my time or resources. I want to be proactive! I want to notice others. I want to stop and take time out of my day when I see a need, and when I don’t, in order to bless others. Not all needs are as visible as house fires in the lives of others. What about those people who quietly are in need of our kindness and attention? My goal is to ignore the urge to rush to focus only on MY errands, MY lists, MY life, in order to be more available to other people. I want to love like Jesus. I choose to love like Him, and to do that means less of ME and more of HIM.