People are watching...

I have a friend (I think he’s a friend) who loves to remind me that people are watching me.  Frankly, it bugs me. It’s enough for me to know that God is watching me. I live for Him, not others and if others don’t like my actions but they make Him smile that should be enough for any of us, right?  But, yes, others do watch. I got going yesterday at 4:15.  A busy and good day.  Made some early morning hospital visits, wrote an editorial for Hope & Expectation, returned a few calls, prayed with a member who had lost a loved one, had lunch with a small group of preacher friends who I love being with, ran/walked 5.5 miles, read a while, then that evening made four good visits.  It was a very good day.  I finally got home at about 8:30 and was ready to just spend a few minutes catching up with Mel and mail.

As she was “catching me up” on her day a couple of emergency vehicles came down Port Royal Road - not the road we live on but one we can see from our front windows.  They slowed and then turned into our neighborhood.  Now, for many of you outside of Spring Hill you will find this hard to believe, but if you live here you’ll know. We are the second oldest family living in our subdivision. The family across the way get first prize. The ambulance and fire truck stopped in front of their house. Melanie went outside and watched. It was a comfortable night and I joined her but after a few minutes I felt, even though it’s a couple of hundred yards across to their house, we were staring. I said, “We need to go back inside ‘Gladys Kravitz.’”

We did but after a few minutes she said, “We need to go check on them.”  I didn’t want to snoop, or to embarrass them or invade on their privacy...but really, I was just tired and wanted to relax.  But she was going and so I followed.  We got there as the man of the house was getting into his car. We’d met his wife and his daughter (who we thought was his sister-in-law) several times but not him.  We told him we just wanted to see if we could do anything to help. They have a couple of dogs and thought they may need someone to check on them if they were gone for long.  He explained that his daughter (who has a intellectual disability) was very weak but it looked like everything was going to be OK.  We told him we lived across the way and Mel said we’d be for them.  He looked at me and said: “You’re that preacher man aren’t you?” It wasn’t a slam it was sweet the way the older guy said it with a hint of appreciation.

But it reminded me - not only is God watching but people are too - so be His person all the time - even when you are tired, even when interacting with neighbors who you don’t even know, know you.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).

"People who do not believe are living all around you and might say that you are doing wrong. Live such good lives that they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again" (1 Peter 2:12 NCV).