I’m still prejudiced
This year, when I packed away our Fisher Price nativity set, I didn’t return Jesus to the attic. I hid him in the bathroom instead. It was a fleeting and crazy idea to get my whole family to keep their eyes open in the new year, a goofy plan to keep my clan LOOKING for Jesus in the ordinary moments of our day. So, our plastic Jesus has lingered in tissue boxes and in silverware drawers. He’s hung out in bookcases and bunk beds. And our silly little game of “seek Him” has caused us to hunt for the REAL JESUS in the commonplace corners of our lives.
And do you know what? After seven months of looking for a smiling plastic babe, we’ve begun to notice our savior more.
My friend Lisa may not have a plastic baby hanging out in her bathroom, but she’s got eyes to see her Savior in the ordinary moments of her days. In fact, not long ago, she spied him in a Waffle House.
I know you’ll be INSPIRED (and maybe a bit convicted) by what Lisa saw that Saturday morning. I’ll let Lisa tell you all about it…
He stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
I’m still prejudiced.
Sometimes I get this false notion I’ve outgrown it.
Oh, how wrong I am.
It doesn’t take much to prove it. How about a Saturday morning at Waffle House?
Two female customers sit at the counter in front of us. They’re dressed immodestly. (Anybody would say so.) One in stretchy black yoga pants, belly oozing out every opening it can find. Scuffed red high heels on her feet.
But she is decent compared to the other. Her skirt (if you can call it that) is tight, pink, tiny. And see-through to her black thong underwear.
They sit by a man, slightly older, buying their morning meal. At a minimum, this meal. (I glance next door for a sleazy hotel.)
This couldn’t be worse, I think. Until they stand up to leave.
The second woman gets up, but her skirt doesn’t. This is bad. The lady beside us covers her son’s eyes. (If I’d known it was coming, I’d have covered up Jeff’s.)
I blossom into full judgment mode now.
What is this white trash thinking? Why is she bringing her prostitute self into a Waffle House where decent families are trying to eat breakfast?
Then she speaks. To us.
She apologizes.
It’s short, granted, and I can’t vouch for her sincerity, but in one short statement, she acknowledges who she is and who we are.
“I’m sorry, ladies; excuse the skirt.”
Sigh.
And I’m sorry, too. Maybe she sees no way out of her ragged mess. Her feet have sores; a band-aid covers a cut near her eye.
This is a broken woman.
That makes two of us.
Broken in different ways, to be sure. But nonetheless, here we are, two women made in the image of God, intersecting at a Waffle House on a Saturday morning. Both with hurts. Both with sin.
And both with hope?
I know I have it. I thank God for it. Whatever life throws at me, I can throw it back (eventually anyway) and claim, “Better is on the way!”
But this woman? What hope is she holding on to? Does she know Jesus?
Instead of jumping to judging, I wish I’d tried praying first. As Grace covers my indecent prejudice, Grace pushes me to outgrow it now.
Grace wants to cover her, too. Grow her some hope. Grace can do that.
I pray she’ll let him.
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11
Lisa Burgess heard about Jesus from birth, but only began to see him as an adult.
Now she watches for him everywhere, sharing what she finds on her blog Lisa notes.
A wife, a mom, a mother-in-law, she’s first a worshiper of God, a seeker of truth, and a recipient of grace.
Linking with Jennifer for Tell His Story, Beth for Wedded Wednesdays
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luvsick/4485474653/
Oh this is convicting and hopeful all rolled into one! How easy it is to fall into judgement and condemnation almost without thinking about it. As if we had a God-given right to it, when the only God-given right we have is to show mercy, love and grace. I love the idea of deliberately seeking Jesus everywhere we go. Though He doesn’t really hide Himself; we just get desensitised to His Presence and too caught up in our own concerns. This tale teaches us to take a deep breath and check in with God before we check out someone else’s life. Thanks very much, Lisa, for sharing and Alicia for hosting. Over here for the first time from #imperfectprose and it’s great to meet you both. Blessings 🙂 x
Hi Alicia — (visiting from #imperfectprose ) wow. I am convicted. Thank you for your transparency and pointing to Christ. I need it.
that’s so curious!this mornnig I wanted to publish on my blog the same links, lisa dahl through dear ada, then I had to run at school & I did not it….in italy we call it telepatia 🙂 /so, keep in contact!
Excellent article! Taking off our judgement glasses is sometimes very hard for us to do. Seeing those in the world through the glasses of compassion and recognizing their brokenness is where Jesus wants us to be living. Too often I leave my compassion glasses in my bible and on my shelf. They need to be a part of my DAILY dressing so that His love can pour out through me to reach into the lives of those who need it most.
Thanks for sharing this today.
Wouldn’t it be cool to have a real set of glasses with the word “Compassion” visible through them? How great a reminder that would be to see the world differently! Thanks, Kate, for suggesting we add this accessory to our wardrobe (at least figuratively).
The woman/lady was truely embarrassed by her skirt, and was hiungry just like the rest of us. She had a spiritual hunger that she did not know, but God was dealing with her in her pain.
I am embarrassed for those who dress, or pierce or tattoo themselves because they are craving attention and want notice. They are hungry too for real love that they have not known as yet.
She “was hungry just like the rest of us”
I do believe that too, Hazel. And also that she may not have even known what that hunger was. I feel so privileged that I grew up not only understanding what that hunger was, but I had a home that showed me Jesus as the way to get fed. I seriously doubt that woman had such an advantage.
I thank God for his grace in dealing not only with her in her poverty, but with me in my wealth. We both need his mercy.
I love the idea of looking for Jesus!
And I have to admit that I struggle with prejudice, too. Just last week my husband and I stopped to help two girls locked out of their car, and I was pretty judgmental of them. That is, until I started talking with them. Then, like you, the prejudice started melting away…
That happens to us over and again, doesn’t it? Just when we think we can judge a book by its cover, we open it up and find a story that’s different than our expectations. I appreciate you sharing this story; it’s a great example of how we can put an end to our prejudices.
Not only an incredible post, but a convicting post. I too would have been prejudice given the same situation. I know me. But, Father knows me even better. Thank God for His Grace and His reminders!!
Glad this touches you like it did me, Betty Jo. We need those wake-up calls from the Lord to remember He wants all of us to both receive AND give His grace away. Thanks for your encouragement.
I work as front desk clerk at a motel, and I found myself judging those who come in to get a room. I look at the way they dress, the tattoos on their bodies, and I judged.
God is teaching me to pray for them, to give them a genuine smile, to shine the light of God’s love, grace and mercy on them
Good for you, Teresa! You are on the front lines, and that smile you give somebody may be the best gift of love and respect they get all day.
I’m ashamed to admit that I’d probably would’ve done the same thing. It’s much easier to jump to conclusions than it is to pray and do something out of our comfort zone. Good food for thought.
Why is it such an easy jump to a conclusion? I guess that’s our human nature. But I’d rather make a leap to compassion first–that’s what Jesus would do. I know it’s a process to be transformed into His image, but still…. Just another reason to be thankful for grace!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Alecia.
Reading this brought tears to my eyes!
How often we (i) forget to see through the eyes of Christ and to love with His heart.
Isn’t it amazing how God can use such simple stories to remind us of his great love? I want to be able to live with that awareness all the time, but I continue to need reminders to see others through his eyes. Thankful he gives us those reminders.
When I find myself starting to judge someone, for whatever reason, it always helps to remember “Jesus died for them, too.” He gave up his life for them AND for me because we all need it so much. His grace covers all of us! His love is more than enough to redeem us all! Isn’t that just AMAZING?!?
Thank you for this!
His love is definitely amazing, Jaimie! I love your enthusiasm. And that’s a great thought for when we’re tempted to judge: Jesus died for this person too. We all have the same need for a Savior.
Oh. Wow. The Lord just convicted me through your words. I do the very same thing, me, sinner saved by grace. This hit the spot. Pray, don’t judge. This will stay with me for days. Thank you Lisa!!
You summed it up more succinctly than I did, Margo, with 3 words: “Pray, don’t judge.” Thanks for stopping in and sharing.
You are not alone…. and GRATEFUL, that you are so real in your own sin and share it with us so that we/I may see my own. Grateful that you see your brokenness and her brokenness and see God’s love and grace for each of you. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Katie. I know you are one who understands our need yet often fear of being authentic. It’s not easy seeing the yucky parts of our humanity but until we do, we are too hard on our fellow travelers on this journey. So thankful we have met up as traveling partners. That is an example of grace itself.
Oh Lisa…your post made me want to cry for this poor broken woman. And I think of the pain that she must live in each day while I live here so well loved and protected by my husband, with Jesus ever with us. And there are so many broken women that need to know how crazy in love with them is our Savior. And for women like me, and maybe you, with our “more acceptable” sins and sometimes not seeing others immediately with Jesus eyes. Forgive me, Father. Your words convict while deepening my compassion. Thank you, my sister, for sharing so honestly. God bless you. And even more, may God bless those two women with hope to find a way out of what appears to be their very dark lifestyle. In Jesus name…
You totally get this, Sheila. Thank you for validating my own sense of pain for these women and pain over my “comfortable” sins. As Floyd said in his comment, “But by the grace of God, there go I…”
I feel so indulged that I’ve known such a bright life compared to the darkness that these women must have seen. Yes, let’s continue to ask God’s blessings on them to see there IS hope and a Way out.
I guess if we’re all completely honest we’re all hypocrites… Sometimes it takes brutal realities of life in our face to be reminded. Lisa, you know I struggle with these type of issues and have to remind myself daily in words, “But by the grace of God, there go i… The best news is it didn’t take you long to hear the Holy Spirit inside pouring His truth and love across your flawed flesh. May we all be so quick to find His truth in these type of situations. So appreciate your heart, sister.
I hope you at least had the chicken and eggs… with a side of grits…
Good point, Floyd–there is progress if we at least notice our hypocrisy quicker than we used to. I’ll take that. And the grace that comes with it!
I only get waffles at Waffle House. (Does that say something about me or what?) Jeff makes up for the variety I don’t eat. {smile}