Most importantly, Come

Last night, as I was getting to know a new friend, we spent much of the night talking about the importance of giving back. We both highly regard giving back to the community that gives us so much, and had a wonderful conversation about how giving is not just about monetary donations but requires a person's whole self.

This morning, I came across a beautiful article: http://shelovesmagazine.com/2013/come-margins/. In this article, she talks about coming into those places that are unfamiliar with yourself and recognizing that you are not the savior. You are simply a person, deeply connected to another person. She powerfully writes,

"Come, but don’t come to save. Come to be alongside on a journey. Offer your hand and your own stories of your grandmother, the first college graduate in your family. Your experiences of sports training and team camaraderie, your illnesses and academic struggles. Bring your brokenness, your loneliness, your confusion and doubts.

Come to the margins with your songs and stories, painting and photographs, teaching plans, and financial portfolios. Come with all your creativity and labor and insights and experiences.

Come to the margins bringing your addiction to accumulating stuff, the idolizing of money and appearance. Bring your fear of not measuring up, your envy and greed.

Come to the margins and find joy there, creativity, hard work, companionship, forgiveness, and a great sense of humor. Come and join and see the unique strengths and gifts and, if necessary, with humble wisdom, offer a hand. Receive a hand.

Come to the margins, aware of your own poverty and of how it doesn’t define you and of how it drives you to your knees and makes you desperate for God. Come but don’t use the margins as a place to soothe your conscience."

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This is a wonderful reminder today that we all bring our own presumptions to every situation. The key is being able to name your own strengths and insecurities without imposing them on others. I am humbled and empowered by this article and pray that I may have the humility to enter into each situation recognizing the other person's humanity.