Seeing the Jesus in You

In the past year, there have been two people who, unbeknownst to them, have given me more perspective on my life than I could have ever gotten without them.

Both of them have one thing in common, I could see myself in them. Almost as an alternate reality, had I chosen another adventure years ago (you remember those books?).?

I met a photographer in Texas who showed me who I could be someday if I believed in myself enough to make my dreams come true. I also spent considerable time with someone I could have ended up being had I never encountered someone else who believed in me when I didn't. The irony is that this person died last week. His life and death have had a profound impact on me—the kind of impact that is life-changing, the type that brings with it self-reflection, followed by perspective and, ultimately, clarity.?

Remember that one mistake you once made a long time ago?

You know the one I'm talking about.

Yeah, that one.?

Can you picture it??

Do you remember how you dealt with that mistake?

Did you have someone to talk to about it?

Did they tell you everything would be ok?

How did you internalize that mistake?

Did you address it head-on in order never to repeat it?

Was the mistake something you were ashamed of?

Was it something you don't want to talk about?

Was it something you tried to bury with a distraction?

Or was it something so painful the only way you knew how to deal with it was by trying to forget it never happened?

Did you drown it out?

Cover it up?

Drink it away?

What if the way you dealt with this mistake became the only way you know how to deal with anything?

What if your way of dealing with your mistakes became a problem?

What if that problem was more significant than the original mistake you made long ago?

What if that problem became so bad that even though you wanted to deal with underlying issues, you couldn't?

What if you pushed everyone away that cared about you in your life because of the way you dealt with your problems?

What if you had no one to talk to about it?

What if you had no one at all?

What if everyone you know only saw you for the mistakes you're making now and not the original mistakes you once made?

What if it was just you, your mistakes, and nothing else?

What if one of the mistakes you made was a severe addiction to a substance?

What if you knew the addiction would kill you if you didn't stop?

What would happen if you did stop?

Would the fear of living alone with only the memory of all your mistakes be worse than drinking yourself to death?

What if you asked yourself that question, and the answer was yes?

What if the person asking these questions was family?

What if the person asking them was your son?

Your daughter?

Your father?

Mother?

Friend?

Neighbor?

What if the person asking these questions was Jesus?

What if Jesus told you he was hungry without anything to eat?

What if he was thirsty, without anything to drink?

What if he was cold without any warm clothes?

What if he was a stranger without a place to stay?

What if he was in prison without any visitors?

What if he was sick without anyone to look after him?

What if you didn't help him?

As I reflect on my friend's life and everything he did or didn't do, and honestly, what a pain in the ass he could be, I can't get the last coherent conversation we had out of my head.?

"What is my purpose in life? I don't have a purpose?" Those were his words as he cried to me over the phone. Most likely drunk at the time, but at least coherent enough to be vulnerable with me. "I don't know your purpose, I wish I did, but I'm not God. I can assure you, though, that the God I know has a purpose for you, and it's never behind you. It's always out in front."

If my friend were here today, I would tell him, "even though I know it's likely not what God wholly intended for you, but watching you from a distance and at times up close and personal this past year, I promise you,?you have a purpose. You've inspired me to want to do better, be better, and live my life. You've inspired me to see Jesus in everyone."?

Now, I always want to give the hungry man something to eat. I want to give the thirsty man something to drink. I want to invite him off the street and shelter him. I want to visit him in prison and look after him when he's sick.

Because anything I did or didn't do for the least of my brothers and sisters, I did for Jesus.??

We all have a purpose, even if we don't know it.?

To my friend, I pray that you finally have found your peace and that everyone you ever knew can see you the way God sees you. As a masterpiece.?

I wrote this for my friend's sister and her wonderful family because it's always been easy to see Jesus in you.??