I don’t know about you, but I’m not always so great at opening my heart to those placed in my midst. My heart is very open to those I place in my midst: friends and family members I enjoy getting together with. But those I didn’t ask to talk to? Like the folks down the street who let their Doberman run wild? Or the woman at the bank who didn’t exactly act like I was her favorite customer? Opening my heart isn’t exactly easy.
Soon, my family will be moving to a new town. I found myself looking around the neighborhood thinking of all the things and people I don’t think I’ll miss. That’s not exactly a very Christ-like attitude, is it? But in a time when our country and our world are divided along political, racial and cultural lines, I don’t think I’m the only one struggling to keep an open heart.
May we hear these words by Violet Little as a challenge and a calling: “O God,… Open our hearts to those you have placed in our midst that we might walk together on the path you put before us. Amen.”
This message is excerpted from “Let’s be honest.” by Sarah Carson in the May 2021 Gather magazine.
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