In some hills of the USA’s mid-South, much of life is lived on the front porch. Neighbors stop by unannounced for a glass of sweet tea or cup of coffee. No invitation is ever necessary.
And then, the stories start getting told. They’re much better heard in person. The tree-lined ridges limit cellphone coverage anyway, so you may as well walk on over and visit awhile!
The measured pace of life in the hills has an appealing quality. People truly know each other, warts and all. It’s because they spend time together. And, for the most part, they accept each other. “He’s good people,” they’ll say as a neighbor ambles on back home.
I was raised in a church that believed in telling as many people about Jesus as quickly as possible. Those intentions were noble. But the emphasis simply seemed to be to hear them say a prayer of salvation.
Jesus modeled a better way. He told His followers to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). But He didn’t give us precise instructions on how to do that. He did, however, give us His example. He invested time in people: moments to converse with a woman at a well (John 4:4-42); time to eat dinner at a reviled tax collector’s house (Matthew 9:9-13); time to bless little children (Mark 10:13-16). And don’t forget the 3½ years invested with His disciples. He didn’t just do ministry—He lived it!
We may need to slow our pace a bit, invite ourselves to someone’s “porch,” and invest time listening to their stories before sharing ours. Of course they’ll get to know us—warts and all. No matter. God’s kingdom can grow on the front porch.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Nehemiah 5:1-19
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and see what it says about establishing loving relationships.
Next:
Are you prone to want to get rid of people when they drop by to talk? How can you creatively find ways to listen to people and truly get to know them?
BearPair on April 30, 2015 at 1:44 am
Superb analogy Tim…. what simple teaching Jesus modeled, yet we are determined WE must have a better way. Thanks for spreading the wisdom!
Gary Shultz on April 30, 2015 at 6:45 am
Loved the picture, loved the thought. It was even good to see the BearPair checking in. Somehow I think we’ll be doing a lot time investments in heaven. The good thing is we don’t have to wait until then to establish relationships. Thanks
tgustafs on April 30, 2015 at 9:13 am
Yeah, I was preaching to myself with this one. I become so consumed with DOING. But doing is not living. This story was inspired by my in-laws. (I married a woman from the southern US.) They teach me a lot about life and living. And they love the Lord.
Tom Felten on April 30, 2015 at 9:22 am
Tim, great reminder to slow down and truly listen to others. I often find myself distracted by the stuff of life. But Scripture calls us to “be still” and “do not be anxious.” May we offer our full attention and winsome patience to all those we interact with today!
bluefigtoast on April 30, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I have been saying this for years. True discipleship requires an investment of time in the life of another. When you pray for a person it is specific. Not just “bless so and so.” Pray for people without using bless. You will find it impossible if you don’t invest some listening time first.
tgustafs on April 30, 2015 at 3:14 pm
That’s great advice! “Bless” is such a default word that we can render it meaningless. Listening well will mean that we pray more specifically. Thanks!