Love Calls Us
Love calls us to say yes, to our neighbors.
“Jesus said yes. “Yes, I will come to your party. Yes, I will show you where my house is. Yes, I will meet your mother-in-law. Yes, I will heal your daughter. Yes, I will do what you ask of me.”
One reason I went into business instead of the ministry or social work was because of all the “yesses” that pile up in a minister’s or social worker’s life. Business seemed to offer a few more “nos.” “No, I can’t see you right now, I have an appointment.” My friends used to joke that I would hire a taxi to take them home from the hospital if I had a board meeting or some other business meeting I could claim.
Just last night, for example, my next-door neighbor invited me to come over. I had just settled in for my favorite program, my books scattered all around me to read, when the phone rang. It was Betty, my eighty-four-year-old neighbor. “Laurie, could you bring your cat over? My granddaughter wants to see him.” I knew Betty had been praying for three years that this granddaughter would come visit her. I winced. It was after 10 P.M., and this was the first time in nearly two weeks I could sit at home and relax. Maybe we could do it another time, I thought. Surely her granddaughter had seen cats before. Then I heard the words of Jesus about love, neighbor, and generosity. I took a long deep breath.
“Come on, Tomás,” I said to the cat. “We’ve got a special person to go see.” Is that what love is all about? Loving your next-door neighbor as much as you love yourself? “Yes,” I could hear my heart laughing. Yes, yes, yes.
Today, in our world of noise, chaos, and despair, I do my best to say yes more often.
LBJ ~ Live. Breathe. Joy.
Thoughts and Questions
When have you spontaneously said yes to a request and been glad you did?
What might happen if you shared a joyous yes more often? (Perhaps saying yes during these uncertain times will remind us of how Jesus treated his neighbors).
