Seeing the Invisible: A Lesson in Compassion

They weren’t really invisible. I could see them across the way as I entered the local Walmart. They just didn’t fit the mold for someone I would stop and engage in a conversation, especially since I’d never seen them in our small town before. 

Curious about what they were selling, I planned to discreetly check their table when I finished shopping. I certainly didn’t intend to stop and visit. 

Leaving the store, however, I was reminded of a question Lisa Harper asked attendees of her study of Luke: Who are the people invisible in my life—those I pass by and subtly overlook or don’t consider? 

Conviction set in as I realized that rushing by without making eye contact would be the opposite of engaging them and showing the gut-level compassion Lisa challenges us to experience in the study. 

So I paused—just long enough for the young man standing behind the table to ask if I might be interested in supporting his organization, which I would soon learn provides services to those who struggle with addiction, alcohol, depression, anger, and suicide. 

The table displayed a variety of items, so I asked what he had. As he described the items for sale, I realized his was (or at least appeared to be) a Christ-centered organization, which prompted more interest on my part. After a few minutes of conversation with my sensors on full alert for some scam or false witness, I realized this guy was genuine. As I fished around in my bag for the correct amount of money to purchase a T-shirt, we continued to visit. 

Though he had shunned anything to do with Jesus and his Word when he was younger, I learned he had recently been baptized. I gathered from the conversation that he’d been raised at least partially by grandparents who loved the Lord, but he was not remotely interested in learning about following Christ in his younger years. The further away from the church he shied, the further his life spiraled: drugs, meth, hopelessness, and even thoughts of suicide. 

When asked how he came to know Jesus, he told me how someone had told him their story. Though initially skeptical, he knew something had to change and agreed to attend church with this person. Again, having no intention of giving in to such foolishness, but as he saw the difference in the people there, he knew he needed what they had.  

We continued talking about how inexplicable it is that our lives can change so drastically in such a short time when the Holy Spirit enters the picture. 

I don’t remember the entire conversation, but he asked if it would be ok if we prayed together. 

A first for me.

Never in my life would I have imagined standing in front of a busy Walmart with my head bowed, having a man who, had we met in a dark alley, might have frightened me, pray with me. But there I was. I have no idea who saw us there with our heads bowed as he boldly prayed a beautiful plea to our Lord for more lives to be touched as his had been. What I do know is that I was so blessed by the encounter that I asked if I could take a selfie with him. 

Yet another first. 

As I sat in church the following day, I couldn’t shake the encounter with Jonathan and how boldly he proclaimed his love of Christ. We were celebrating our high school seniors that morning in worship, and it saddened me that only four young men from our congregation chose to wear their cap and gown to worship and be recognized for their accomplishments in graduating high school. It brought me joy in knowing that though they could have slept in, attended one of the many graduation parties on their docket, or decided they were too busy to be there that morning, they chose to worship Jesus on one of the most important days of their young lives. 

I wondered if my new friend Jonathan had attended a similar service or if he’d even graduated high school. Assuming that he hadn’t, I couldn’t help but wonder if that would have changed the direction his life had taken if he had. 

Truly, it doesn’t matter because, as only Jesus can, he found his lost sheep and brought him home in His perfect timing. Jonathan is now devoting this chapter of his life to raising money and bringing awareness to the plight so many young people are living, which shows his commitment to bringing the change he saw in his life to others.

This encounter blessed me in so many ways.  

And to think, I almost walked by like I didn’t see him. That would have been my loss. 

Friend, I’ve just got to ask you, “Who in your life is invisible?“ Who would you normally walk past without a second glance? And as Lisa Harper asks in her study, “What changes do you need to make to see and engage them?”

For me, it was asking Jesus to help me to slow down and truly see people. I was truly blessed that He answered that prayer in my brief conversation at Walmart that day. 

I know that my new friend Jonathan is changing lives, and I pray that the people he reaches will have gut-level compassion to help him and his group carry on their mission of bringing the lost into the light of Jesus Christ. 

 

 

Jonathan permitted me to share the photo publicly.

Check out Life Changers Outreach at lifechangersoutreach.com. 

The Bible Study I reference is Luke: Gut-Level Compassion by Lisa Harper, page 14. HarperChristian Resources publisher.