What I'm Learning About ...
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Since I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., I always imagined the "least of these," those people Jesus instructed us to look after during our time here on earth, lived very far away. I thought observing this command required herculean effort, such as joining a missions trip to Zimbabwe or seeking out a soup kitchen in rougher city neighborhoods.
But the day I answered an ad in my church bulletin, all that changed.
The ad was a call for volunteers to help with the free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes World Relief offers to immigrants and refugees in our corner of suburban Chicago. I've always loved talking with people from other cultures, so I dialed the phone number listed. Soon I was spending my Wednesday evenings in a church basement with people from around the globe.
At first it was intimidating to explain kitchen terms, past participles, and the countless exceptions of the English language to people from Iraq, Somalia, Mexico, and the Ukraine. But I loved the conversations we had during the break in the middle of class. Over instant coffee, I asked students about their jobs, families, and homelands.
I was amazed at how many of the students worked more than one job—often as busboys or cooks, factory workers, or housekeepers for local hotels or cleaning services. They all seemed hungry to talk about their exhausted lives and to ask questions about the complexities of American culture. The latter brought much laughter, such as the time we helped a Somali woman realize smoked turkey is a sandwich ingredient, not an inhaled narcotic!
A couple years into this volunteer stint, I noticed one of our students—Dula from the former Yugoslavia—walking to class in the snow. I offered her a lift home, and when we arrived at the small two-bedroom apartment she shares with her family of four, she invited me in for coffee. A tradition was born that night. I gave Dula rides to and from class, she gave me dangerously strong coffee and a peek into the world of an immigrant. We watched Fear Factor, ate European chocolates, shared about our differing religious beliefs, and talked about her tedious job as a cleaning lady.
A funny thing happened as I got to know Dula and the rest of these hard-working new friends. My eyes began to open to a whole group of people right under my nose every day. I started paying attention to busboys, clerks at the local dry cleaners, hotel cleaning staff. People struggling to make a living. The "least of these" in my own backyard. I'm embarrassed to admit these folks had been invisible to me before.
I found myself suddenly noticing these people. Looking them in the eye. Smiling at them. And saying "thank you."
It was a tiny thing, really. But a huge first step in learning to love the least of these. Obviously, we've got to see and acknowledge these people before we can love them. Some days loving them is as simple as offering an appreciative smile or a heartfelt "have a nice day." Bestowing worth and dignity by not taking them for granted, by not letting them remain invisible. Other days, when God opens the door, loving them involves offering a ride, a listening ear, or a word of truth about the Father of us all.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2007, September/October, Vol. 29, Issue 5, Page 72
Related Topics:
Compassion, Immigrants, Outreach, Refugees, Volunteering
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Tracy Pace
'Those people' are who Jesus walked with: not the self-righteous of a society, but those who are being left out in some way or are prejudiced against. He wanted to show us clearly that to love everyone is to walk with God: Matthew 25 isn't about earning God's approval, it's how we are closer to God when we see all people as equal to ourselves and deserving a share in all we have and we respond to them, trusting God to provide for us, encouraging each in turn to help another. As Jesus said: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? It's not performing a special service but the way we are instructed to live our daily lives not with just one person or group but with everyone, not just in public but those acts which no one knows but God and ourselves. Great topic but the language of the article might be more sensitive to being interpreted as patronising and elitist to immigrants or people in poverty?
evelyn
Your honest and perceptive insights just gave flesh to a wonderful message I heard long time ago on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Sometimes the poor just becomes part of the landscape -- in your terms "invisible". They are just there, they become so commonplace we do not "see" them or even care. The rich man knew about Lazarus, he even know Lazarus' name -- but despite his awareness and knowledge the rich man did not care, much less do anything. Thank you so much for your story. It is very powerful. Indeed there is a suffering world out there, we need the Lord to give us the eyes and the heart to reach out and be Christ's hands to them.
Carolyn
I am saddened by your response, Lesley .... and am praying that whatever wounds you have which have surfaced here will be healed by the Lord. I suspect that you were the recipient of judgment, etc. as a Hispanic woman and perhaps newcomer to the USA. Having lived in Toronto and been involved with immigrants, this article was a wonderful one in my opinion. Oh how comfortable we can become with our own situation ... and need something to wake us up to the reality others live. Now living in Malaysia, I have a greater understanding of what immigrants go through ... and I have been blessed by their 'attitude of gratitude' as they work so hard to succeed in their new lives. We have much to learn from these folks who are brave enough .. perhaps desperate enough .... to leave a familiar situation to move. Bless you, Courtney. I'm also praying that you will be able to expand your area of ministry because you are certainly on the right track!!! God bless!!!!!
BJ
It sounds like these new arrivals to our country really know how to live in gratitude and to and enjoy life! "Your life is God's gift to you; what you do with your life is your gift to God." I am glad the author met them.
Sophia
Lesley, I feel sad that you misunderstood the author. I don't think she's implying she is a blessing just because she says thank you. I think she is confessing that she has been privileged and ignorant to the needs and personhoods of those that wait on others, those in the background. I for one am thankful that at least she "got it"; that she's finally seeing waiters, busboys, and cleaning ladies as People of God. Now if we can all take that lesson and bless those around us too.
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