What If We Looked at Strangers the Way God Does?

I love testimonies. Here is one birthed from a poem.

“Introduction”
I have a friend who met my book collection
Before he met me.
He read through the titles of classic works,
Recognizing most, and thought,
“I’m going to like this person.”

I knew nothing of this prologue
When we introduced ourselves,
But was struck, almost physically,
By his joyful smile that said,
“I like you and am going to like you more.”

Usually introductions avoid naked delight.
We are less exposed, more cautious.
That seems prudent. After all,
You never know when you’ll meet an ax murderer.
And yet

I wonder now if we met people, made
In the image of God, with joyful expectation
In our eyes instead of self-preservation,
If that would show more Christ.
After all,

That’s how he meets us.

In response, Jennifer V. sent me a beautiful testimony.

While living in Boston as a young single woman, I had no car; I walked or took public transportation everywhere (If you’ve ever tried to navigate Boston’s paved-over cow paths, you’ll understand). Since I was a quiet introvert, quite frequently traveling alone amongst thousands of people, my first inclination was to lower my eyes and fortify myself to reach my destination unscathed and preferably unnoticed. This I attempted for a while.

But the God who is Love had another plan for me. He told me quite clearly that each and every person I would pass was His beloved, His image and likeness. That I was to look at them with His eyes, and strive to see them as He sees them. This became for me a practice, a prayer of action for my community. The more I strove to obey, the easier it became. Fear fell away as I reached out with my heart to greet God’s child in everyone I passed. I looked complete strangers in the eyes and gave them a deeply heartfelt smile. It was evident that this was blessing the “see-er” as well as the “seen.” People were visibly startled by their own unbidden childlike open smile in response. And it brought me such joy!

Occasionally, I’d need to walk home alone rather late at night. A certain corridor between old brownstones, through which I needed to pass, was lovely by day. At night, however, it was sometimes the site of muggings or worse. It was tempting to alter my attitude toward the few people I would pass to fit the hour and atmosphere. However, I felt God’s reassurance that His instruction was the best way to obey His two greatest commandments. And I had learned that in obedience to Him we find protection.

One particular night I remember quite clearly. Off I went into the night, affirming to myself that God made all that was made, and saw it all good. That everyone I would pass that night was His image, the likeness of Divine Love, and was governed by Him.

A girl sat crying on a doorstep. I sent out my heart to God’s child, precious and oh so loved, right there. She stopped crying and looked up. I smiled at her through the dark as I continued walking. I passed some people making choices I wouldn’t, and smiled at each image of God as I walked by.

As I entered “the corridor,” I reminded myself that, since God is infinite, there couldn’t be a single spot void of His presence, His power, or His Love. The corridor was empty except for one man in a hoodie who began to walk directly toward me with a malevolent air. This was no time for prayers of petition; this was affirmation time. Silently but vehemently declaring his true nature as God’s image and affirming that He governs and protects us all from harming or being harmed, I continued in my course. I had confidence that God would not permit His child, this man, to be used by the adversary to harm another of God’s children. As the man approached, I looked him straight in the eyes, smiled from the depths of my heart at his true self, wished him a “Good evening”, and continued forward without breaking stride or veering off my course. He quickly turned around and walked in the opposite direction. In a minute I was home.

I wonder if that was how Daniel felt when he was dropped into the lions den?

May we all walk our paths with this sense of God’s presence.

Lord God, thank you that you made us in your image. Lord, for the ways that we have defiled your image, we ask that you would forgive us. Lord, for the ways that we have hurt others made in your image, we ask that you would forgive us, and pour out your healing oil on all the hurting places. We ask, Lord, for more of your presence in this hurting world, and we claim the promise in II Chronicles 7:14, that if your people, who are called by your name, would humble ourselves and pray, and seek your face and turn from our wicked ways, that you will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land.

We cry out for that healing, Lord God.

Lord, I ask that your people would be walk this land, filled with your love for all of your creation. I ask that we would affirm the image of God in each person we meet. May we live ever more in your image and likeness.

Thank you, Lord. In the name of Jesus I ask these things, amen.

Dear family, be firmly fixed, unshakable, always full to overflowing with the Lord’s work,

Amy Joy

P.S. I love this story for several reasons, but one is the sense of intentionality.

Bob taught me to pray from 2 Chronicles 7:14, but he also taught me another prayer from Chronicles: 1 Chronicles 4:10. The two verse vignette of Jabez, whose name meant “pain,” but who prayed a large prayer of great intentionality.

I wasn’t expecting to like this prayer, but I do. Very much.

Find this short, powerful book here.