Will You Become an Includer?
A friend of ours was talking about Thanksgiving dinner at her house growing up. “There was always someone there we didn’t know,” she said. “Mom would always call up someone she thought would be alone that day and include them at our family table.” Her story made me think of the school cafeteria and the kids who were never included and sat alone. Or for many of us, the relatives who never included us in things their families did. Few things feel worse than feeling excluded while few things better than feeling included.
The enemy of inclusion is selfishness. “I just want my people.” We know them. It takes less effort to be around them. It’s work to include people who aren’t like us . . . who might be emotionally needy, have little or no faith-walk, have irritating habits, or talk too much about things we don’t care about.
As Jesus-followers, we’re charged with loving others as God loves us, and that’s about as inclusive as it gets. When we exclude . . . when we stay in our ‘holy huddles,’ we unintentionally communicate self-righteousness. And that’s one of the biggest things hindering faithless people from finding and following Jesus. It’s also one of the biggest roadblocks to connecting (or reconnecting) with the local church.
In our everyday relationships with our families, friends and coworkers, we don’t see a lot to gain through new relationships. We’re not selling anything. We’re not trying to build databases or email lists. We’re simply trying to make our way through an overworked world where time is at a premium. Being an includer takes time . . . it’s messier and less comfortable than sticking with our exclusive circle of people who think, look and act in ways that make us comfortable.
Take a moment now and ask God to remind you of someone who might feel left out . . . someone He wants you to include somehow. Take a step . . . send an email, make a call, send a text, do one thing to include that person.
Scripture: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
Mentor Tip: “There’s a time to talk and a time to live,” said a Christian sage. Our mentees will have heard the ‘sermon’ of our lives and many of the things we have to say. When we include others in our circle of influence, they can begin to see our lives up close and personal, and hopefully our lives will speak louder than our words.
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Responses (2)
Good work @regi Campbell
thanks