Eyes To See

Eyes to See

[Jesus] told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

Mark 16:15

I went on my first mission trip as a young married woman. My husband and I were youth leaders in our church and were asked if we’d be willing to take a group of kids to Mexico to encourage some smaller, remote churches within our denomination. We agreed, and soon I found myself leading a bundle of kids across the border, unsure of what to expect.

Along with ministering to the churches there, we visited many of the slums and, essentially, dumps, where people who were too poor to afford anything else lived. We prayed with people, handed out supplies, and spent time with the families who lived there. We made connections through smiles and hugs, even when our language skills fell a little flat. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken, because it challenged me to see the needs of others, especially when I returned home. The experience increased my sensitivity to others I come across in my daily life—like the homeless person standing on the street corner, the one I used to quickly avert my eyes from, or the neighbor I would politely wave hello to but never really stop to get to know.

Sometimes stepping outside of our everyday environments and our comfort zones can be a good thing. It can allow us to see the world and the people who live in it with fresh eyes. It can also stir in us a desire to help others who are less fortunate than we are.

We may not all be able to go to another country, but obeying God’s command to “go into all the world and preach the Good News” can start with going to new places right in our own communities and reaching out to people who live nearby. It doesn’t matter where you live; there is always someone who has a need. Whether it is with food or clothing, transportation, or even just encouragement to get through the day, we can start by helping those who are right around us.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Pray that God would give you eyes to see a need in your own community, and then take a small step to help.