Look Closer At Me

I’ve always been fascinated by the way Jesus spent time.  One would assume Jesus spent time with the rich, the powerful, the religious.  Not so.  Rather, Jesus spent time with the poor, the weak, the marginalized; the 'little people'.   

In fact, Jesus spent so much time with 'little people', Jesus was severely criticized.  One classic case involved the 'little man' Zacchaeus.  ‘Up a tree’ in Luke 19, Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector, known for his short stature and unpopular ways.  Yet, Jesus moves toward the little guy; why crowds murmur, and people complain, yet Jesus moves toward Zacchaeus, entering his life and home (Luke 19:1-10).

We must do the same; we must enter the life of marginalized people.  Though folks be suspect, even unpopular, we must embrace their needs, and address their circumstance.    

A few years back, a patient at a geriatric ward in England penned the following poem; it was discovered, shortly after her death.   

“What do you see nurses, what do you see?  [What] are you thinking as [you look] at me?  A crabby old woman, not very wise…who dribbles her food, and makes no reply...I’ll tell you who I am as I set here so still, as I rise at your bidding, [and]…eat at your will…I’m an old woman now, and nature is cruel--tis jest to make old people…[look as] fools.  The body it crumbles—grace, vigor they depart, now there’s a stone, where once…a heart.

But inside this carcass—a young girl dwells, and now and again my battered heart swells.  I remember the joy, I remember the pain, I’m living and loving--in hope of real gain.  I think of the years—too few, gone…too fast, and accept the fact that nothing can last.  So open your eyes…open and see.  Not a crabby old woman…look closer at me.”

That’s the prayer of every marginalized person:  look closer at me.   Go beyond appearances and assumption, toward awareness; awareness of  true capacity and worth.  For beyond wrinkles, is energy; beyond homelessness, is giftedness; beyond youth, is vision and contribution  

Bottom line:  go beyond initial impression.  What seems lesser, is in fact greater, from the vantage point of God.