Earphones...

Ever notice how many people walk around with earphones in their ears?

If you walk in Starbucks and see someone you know and they have earphones in their ears, how likely are you to walk up to them and start a conversation?

Not likely huh?

Why is that?

Are you trying to be rude? Probably not.

I always wondered about the various reason someone would always have earphones in their ears.

They enjoy music?

Music motivates them?

Don't want to feel alone?

An attempt to soothe the pain?

I'm guilty of this!! Whether it be cutting the grass, or lying in bed, or at the gym, I have earphones in my ears.

Whatever the reason, the earphones in the ears can send a message that we don't want to be bothered. We don't want another person to ask how we are doing so we disconnect and unplug from everything around us.

What happens when we get so used to "tuning out" and don't recognize that people around us are suffering?

The single mom who lives next door,

The kid at school that is constantly bullied,

The girl crying in the bathroom.

We can be so insulated from everyday life even though we are alive and breathing and totally miss out on what is going on around us.

I have been reading this book called "You Were Made to Make a Difference". It is written to teenagers, but it can resignate within adults too.

It talks about how sometimes we wait until we get into high school, or get a car, or land that promotion before we start to even think about making a difference. Not the math type of difference, the make the world right by loving people type of difference.

Or perhaps in my case just being in the right place at the right time in order to make a difference.

It was two weeks ago, I was heading back to the church from lunch when I saw a man sitting next to the stop sign. I looked at the man at the same time he looked at me and we locked eyes for about 1 second. God then spoke "when you get back to work I want you to find that man...and make a difference". So of course I argued with God about how busy I was, and how emails need to be sent, and how I really don't have time right now.

So as I was driving back to find the guy (yes God won the argument...again) I find the guy still sitting by the stop sign. Now I'm like "ok God, You told me to come here, now tell me what to say". I simply asked the guy, whose name was Thomas, if there was anything I could do for him. His response almost floored me. Thomas said he hadn't eaten in 3 days...this is Kenner, LA...people aren't supposed to go 3 days without eating!!

I offered to buy Thomas food and he accepted. At 1st he was hesitant in ordering, but I told him to ordered enough food to last him a day. So as he ate his 1st cheeseburger, I kind of just left him alone...he really looked like he was enjoying it!! But he then asked me the million dollar question...why are you doing this. I told him that I am only doing what God instructed his children to do...love people.

He then told me he had given up on God 3 years ago when he lost his job, house, family, reputation and manhood! He then told me his story...and I listened...with no agenda. After about 45 minutes, I found out he had no place to sleep for the night. I took him to a homeless shelter in the city and asked if I could pray for him right there...he said absolutely. I prayed for him and I haven't seen him since.

Did I make a difference?

Did Thomas decide to start investigate God again, I don't know.

I do know this. God had been showing me how important it is to be aware and live in the now and be ready to give people more than money...be ready to give them Jesus.

So earphones.

Do we walk around with them in our ears, going about our agendas for the day, oblivious to what is happening around us?

God wants to use you and me to give people something more than money...it's the love of Jesus, but are we plugged into and tuned into what is going on around us?

Have you seen any Thomas'?

Do you know any single moms?

Do you know someone who needs a friend?

You can make a difference...right now...in your own way...in your neighborhood, school, or workplace...

Just be willing to take out the earphones.