The Heart of a Missionary

Sometimes I wonder what is in the heart of a missionary. By missionary I mean someone who moves to another country, overseas and abroad, with the stated purpose being to tell people about Jesus. That thought just crossed my mind this is this morning.

In the church I used to attend, I picked up a sense that the reason for telling people about Jesus was almost rooted in disdain, maybe anger, maybe with a tinge of disgust.  I'm not saying that was their intention as they taught about missions; that's just how my very zealous mind interpreted what I heard. 

We were taught not to have friends who weren't Christians. In other words, not to associate with those who were not family. When I did "reach across the aisle," so to speak, or when I did feel the urge to witness to someone, it was more with an underlying feeling of putting on gloves and reaching into a pit of muck and stench to pull someone up. I felt it was my duty as a Christian because they needed to be thankful for the great sacrifice Jesus made for them, dying on the cross.

Now. I do believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. However, my thoughts have broadened greatly since I've admitted to myself and to the world that I am a lesbian; someone not necessarily acceptable to the church and society of which I formerly was a part. Now, I feel like I am seen by my former family as one in the pit of stench who needs to be pulled out, hosed off, and pushed forward into their idea of correct living.

It took me many long years to reconcile my innate homosexuality with my genuine love for God. I had been taught God's love was not available to my caliber of sinner. It took me years to learn and to truly believe God loves me exactly the way I am.

That part of my life story is an entire novel in and of itself but for today I will stick to my original topic. What is a missionary? I believe all Christians are called to live as missionaries. However, I don't believe Jesus wants us to walk around with our noses figuratively up in the air as we stoop down to sacrificially warns people who do not know Jesus that He is the one and only way to get to heaven.

So what is the heart of a missionary? My objective in writing this blog is not to sculpt my own blanket definition of what a missionary is. My objective is to get you to think about it. What is your opinion on that topic? What is your answer to that question?

I don't believe there is one and only one specific right answer. I can tell you, however, a few things that I believe are a part of the definition of a missionary: 

Love people.

Live what you talk about; let your life line up with your words.

Love.

Love, love, love! Isn't that God's underlying reason for everything? Everything He does for us is rooted in love. I John 4:8 says, "God IS love." I don't think he can make it any clearer.

So go give people love and, in so doing, give them God.

Make friends. Be nice to people. Be genuinely nice to people. Love people, just like God loves you.

Don't judge. Don't judge anyone. Don't judge anyone, ever. That is a high goal; I will readily admit that I am far from perfect in that area but I am working on it. I will say that God has helped me become a lot better at loving people, loving people more and judging them less.

Judging is God's business. Loving is our business.

Be a regular person. Live among regular people. And if there truly is a light inside of you, they will see it. 

People are drawn to light. People are drawn to kindness. Pray for people. Pray for their needs without bragging about it.

Be happy. Don't be fake happy, but know God. Know who God is to you. Spend time talking to God; getting to know God- and that will make you a happy person.

You don't have to be a spiritual Roto Rooter to drill into someone's psyche, loosen up who they are and force God down their throat. Just love.

Be a missionary. Hand out love for free. That's what God is all about really: love for free, for anyone and everyone. 

God is love. You be love, too. Let's all strive and pray to have the heart of a missionary.

<p><I>Isaiah 55:1- Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free! "</I></p>

<I>Revelation 22:17- "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let anyone who hears this say, 'Come.' Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. "<I>

Turning Up Roses

In Starbucks on this crisp, happy spring morning. Just stopped by to make a drop off at Goodwill. So far, it's a good day.

Though I will say I am somewhat hungry... maybe more like just short of ravenous. Over the past month or so, I've been transitioning to the vegan lifestyle. I'm finding this change very rewarding and also refreshing. Though finding vegan foods at public eateries is proving challenging.

This morning, I am about to enjoy a grande soy latte. After it cools a little.  :)

One thing I'm VERY excited about is themyanned move next week OUT of my apartment and INTO a real, free-standing SINGLE-FAMILY-HOME house! And it's beautiful,  and spacious, and wonderful. Brick and wood outside,  all wooden inside, it was built in the 1940s and has cozy, homey features like 12-foot ceilings and transome windows above the doorways.  The landlord is a kind, calm and friendly FAMILY man who lives next door and, as it turns out, goes to our church.

So no more noisy neighbors,  no more band practice above my bedroom until the wee hours, and no more frantic hurrying from the car to the door,  holding my breath to stave off the repugnant second-hand from my neighbor who loved to suck nicotine outside her door as she sent and received incessant text messages that beeped and beeped and beeped....

No, no more of that. I anticipate happy mornings in a sunny kitchen, cats swirling gently around my ankles as I swirl fragrant coffee in my mug. I anticipate looking out over a happy back yard surrounded by wooden fences and seeing the small vegetable garden I will plant.

Yes, everything is turning up roses... which,  by the way, I will be planting in the flower bed along the front side of the house.

Pictures to come.

God loves me SO MUCH! And I love Him right back. :)