It's Not Funny, It's Sad

I just clicked on one of those Walmart photos things that Facebook sometimes post links.  I thought it would give me a nice laugh.  Instead, it made me quite sad.  Some of the photos you could tell were taken on Halloween but most of them were what people chose to wear and how they presented themselves.  There was no humor.  Not even disgust. although some could be classified as such.  No I felt a deep sadness that these people had such a low opinion of themselves that they would go out in public looking like they should be committed to a mental institution.  Maybe, they feel that they are so unworthy to be part of society that they separate themselves by appearing as outlandish, in their minds, as possible.  I don't know.  I just felt really sorry for them.  Not embarrassed for them, not ashamed for them, just grieving for them.

You see, at a point in my life, before I was redeemed by Christ, I too, was extremely lonely, full of self hatred, and low self worth.  My outlet was science and arrogance in my education and a lot of anger.  So I know a little about from where they are coming.

It would be so cliche, and honestly, tiresome for me to say, even if true, that these people need Jesus. I did and still do.  Is it a sign of my spiritual growth that I feel this way for these people?  Maybe. But who cares?  It;s not about me.

Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 But Paul was talking to believers (see Eph 1:1).  I have a hard time accepting that these people are saved. They would not see that verse as uplifting.  Even though it is to those of us who do believe.  There is an old Christian song where part of the chorus is "don't tell them Jesus loves them until you are ready to love them too."  I have to admit that many of the people in those photos would be hard pressed to be even near much less love them.  But that is the point isn't it?  Jesus touched the untouchable.  Matthew 8.  He healed a leper by touching him.  Was the touch necessary?  For Jesus, no.  For the leper, who was so diseased and physically maimed by it he probably hadn't been touched by anyone in a long time?  Absolutely.  While these people are probably not diseased, in their hearts, and minds' eyes, like the leper, they deem themselves unworthy of being loved or touched and so they display themselves as such in order to reduce the pain or they stop caring to reduce the pain.

So here is my self challenge and my challenge to my readers - rather than laugh at or avoid, reach out.  Try talking with them. Don't be stupid.  Don't be critical or judgemental. Be friendly. Be loving.  Remember John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Like it or not, these people are our neighbors and we were given a command by God.

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