When we are Jesus for each other

A sign on a church in our community read “when we are Jesus for each other.”  I saw it as I drove home from the grocery store one day and it made me think, When am I Christ for someone else? I know when I’m not, and yet there are times that I do feel I act as a good neighbour ought, not expecting the same thing in return.

How about you? Have you given something with no expectation of return favours? Our friends will often do things for us in exchange, but perhaps there’s a time when even they need to be the receiver, especially when it’s hard.

In the middle of January, a woman came from Mauritius, a tropical country where it can be cool in evenings, but never cold enough to snow. Zareen was coming to work for a year with a regional organization, and she would land in the middle of our Canadian winter. She’d been here in the fall and had an idea of our autumn weather, but not snow. And they do not sell winter wear on that island.

I contacted a friend who’d also met Zareen when she came to our Toastmasters club during her previous work session. We hatched a plan to take Zareen shopping, the day after she landed, for winter clothing, warm coat, boots, mittens and hat. Zareen was excited when I told her. 

As it turned out, the weather got very cold the evening Zareen arrived. She felt that winter chill. The next morning the snow started coming, with cold icy wind. And all she had on her feet was a pair of canvas sneakers. As was also fortunate, my friend had a coat and boots that had been her mother’s and were still like new.

Delighted with her new coat and boots, that fit her well, we headed for the mall to fill in a few other gaps. We not only had a positive outcome, but our guest would also be warm and cozy. We even got a photo of her clearing snow off the car in the parking lot. 

That felt like being Christ. She would be dressed appropriately for our winter weather. And we all enjoyed our time together. Well maybe not driving in those conditions so much, but we travelled safely and slowly that day.

Your act could be buying a bag of potatoes for a food blitz for a local shelter, or sending good used clothing that you don't need anymore to an organization that helps the working poor. Or it could be helping to plant trees in a local park that needs extra hands to do the job.

I don’t know what it will be for you. Taking soup to a friend who’s just had surgery and must rest. It could be calling someone when you get the ‘feeling’ they need to hear from you. A 'God moment' for them and for you. And maybe some day, it will be you who needs the help. Be willing to accept as well, for that's the way gifts work.

We still have to take care of our family and manage our finances well, so we can pay our own bills. Being Christ for someone else may not always be a monetary act. How will your “being Christ” look?

Carolyn Wilker is an author, editor and storyteller based in southwestern Ontario. Learn more about her here.  She also writes a blog called Storygal.