There was a song on Sesame Street for children to learn about different things that fit together to teach them about animals etc. A line in the song was, “One of these things just doesn’t belong here, one of these things just doesn’t fit in.”
Many times it feels like that song humorously describes me. The Life Groups in my church are geared around matching people for groups that fit together such as young singles, newly married no kids, young married with small kids, adults with teen kids etc. There is a singles group, which I don’t join in on even though I am single. There are groups for older people etc etc.
Sunday I visited a Life Group at church. They were all kind and devoted in their faith. I enjoyed the discussion, but I noticed something. I was the only one using an iPad and biblegateway app to read bible passages. I didn’t see a smart phone or tablet in the group. I think they were all in their late sixties or seventies. I will probably go again, but I realize my life is vastly different than theirs. I didn’t want to ask if anyone has Facebook to do a friend request. I certainly didn’t mention they can follow me on Instagram.
My body is approaching senior citizen age, but my mind and heart are not. Because I spend so much time with refugees and immigrants, many of them in their twenties and thirties, I try to stay current on forms of communication.
My life is all about spending time with people from many different cultures. The only time I usually have conversations longer than five minutes with other Americans is on Sundays. I love the life the Lord has led me to. I love my refugee and immigrant friends. They make my life so interesting and fun.
When I have down time and want to just relax at home, I often binge watch shows on Netflix and Hulu on my laptop or iPad, I rarely turn on my TV anymore. I enjoy youtube videos too.
As a young friend of mine joked with me, “You are a millennial.”
Even though there is no real fit for me within groups, there is a fit for me with Jesus. I will continue to spend time with diverse people when it comes to culture, age, etc. I belong to Jesus and he has placed me among many cultures and experiences.
For me the key is to relate with people where they are at and not expect them to relate with me seeking to understand without expecting them to understand me because Jesus understands me.
Anyone who chooses to follow Jesus is choosing a life that does not fit completely with life in this world. Our focus is to be n the eternal not this life. After all, all followers of Jesus are just foreigners traveling through this life as Hebrews 11 says:
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
A closing thought. In my post Liebster Award I shared that I can greet people in thirty languages. It is my hobby to learn new words. I made a video several years ago. I have learned more greetings since I made this video, but thought I would share it. Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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