What the alien said...

I've come to really enjoy (I'm trying to not say "love" so much about things like this...that's hard) reading Donald Miller's books. While I've only got two now (another ordered today), they are possible two of my favorites in my library. He's real...approachable...like he's just sitting there talking to you. If I wrote a book I think I might write like him.

Anyway, in Searching for God Knows What Don talks about how an alien visited him (ok, he was pretending) and wrote down this description of humans:

"Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which , given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every human's social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem."

The thought of the alien's description has come to mind often lately as I think about myself and the church, in general. Could it be right? What do I think when I look at other people? Do I evaluate them immediately...rich/poor, clean/dirty, smell good/bad, speak better/worse than me, more/less experience, smarter/dumber, etc etc etc? And after I've made my very scientific evaluations how do I treat them based on my findings?

As I think of the wisdom of the alien I also think of what Paul said to the church in Galatia:

In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.

I've got a long way to go to see people truly the way Jesus saw them. He made his own evaluations but they had nothing to do with what was on the outside. He, as we know, saw their hearts. I want to be like that...I want to be like Jesus. I want to love people equally no matter who they are. I want treat the guy who comes to my window asking for a quarter the same as I treat me best friend or my family. But isn't that a strange thing to even say or think?

I'm sick...as the alien observed. I want to change. I want to love...no matter...