~ Put a Smile on Someone’s Dial

Apologies to those readers who are not with the Australian use of the word “dial”, to clarify the title a “dial” is used as slang for face.  In the context of a “Make A Difference” life this smile may well be one of the more basic Good News initiatives that we have available to us as Jesus Followers.

I don’t think that Jesus teachings about human relationships are stretched too far in us making a difference to our neighbour, the alien in our midst or even that person we would cross the road for; just to ignore them.

In His teaching on the law Jesus made the second part to “love your neighbour as yourself” and then went on to describe the actions of a despised alien Samaritan caring for his Hebrew foe as a neighbour. 

Paul years later wrote to the Church in Rome these words in his epistle;

  ²⁰ Instead,

   “If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
      If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap

      burning coals of shame on their heads.” Rom 12:20

This is a great attitude to have.  It rather reminds me of an old camp song we used to sing which went “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”.  It is the same evidentiary quality without the practical applications.  Can you imagine a world where everybody was happy went about clapping their hands and vice versa.

Sure there is an element in the Paul verse that has Machiavellian tendencies like do good to others so that we can guilt them but I don’t believe that was on Pauls mind, or even King Solomon (Prov 25:21-22) whom Paul was quoting.

No for mine there is not many greater pleasures evoking a smile of response from a total stranger in a place filled with strangers.  I know that in the overall scheme of things it doesn’t amount to much “Evangelically” but that is only because I do not see the final outcome.  I sense that people flocked to the Master not because He had some aura or even some leadership qualities I simply believe it was because He loved them and made them feel “acceptable”.

It costs us comparatively nothing to treat people as if they were some long lost friend and it only takes a little effort to enlarge that to the start of a conversation which has the potential of becoming a friendship; and from there we are in His hands.  It is relatively simple to get this smile response, at least in my experience, you start by having a smile to present to the world one that is open and friendly then you engage the persons eyes; not confrontationally or staring and definitely not as a put down or smug like.

Jesus wooed the world by being aware of the people in His environment and caring about them “warts and all”, should we not be doing the same things He did and find ways to reach out to others just as He found with those around.

We have a calling to build bridges to people who do not yet know the Master, that we may present a caring and creative message of Fathers love that is appropriate to every person we encounter.  But let’s start by bringing a little light into so many people’s lives with a smile.