By Lanny Smith
Merry Christmas! What a wonderful time of the year. It’s Christmastime – the reason and the season for family, food, gifts and – Christmas movies, right?
I recently had the privilege of hanging out with many of the cast and crew of an upcoming film in production. I acted like a human sponge, soaking up the atmosphere and the entire movie-making experience. It was fascinating to watch these professionals in action. From what I could see, everyone worked hard on this production regardless of their assigned tasks. I enjoyed chatting with as many of the cast and crew as possible – until they ordered me off the set. (No, I’m just kidding about that part. I behaved myself,.)
You might be thinking: What a cool situation! It was indeed, but could there be a downside? Well, from a Christian perspective, I “sensed” that there were some people (among the cast and crew) who didn’t know the Lord. It’s hard to put into words, but it seemed like these people were shrouded in a cloak of sadness.
For example, some of the actors seemed suspicious as to why a complete stranger (me) would smile and chat with them. That’s understandable – they probably get this all the time. I imagined that some were even thinking, “who are you – a deranged fan or something?”
Some of the crew didn’t want to be bothered as they scurried about their business. That’s okay, I got it. They had a job to do – they were working! Still, I had to ask myself if these people knew Jesus?
Now take my little story and apply it to your own circumstances. Substitute the terms “cast” and “crew” for “editors” and “publishers” (or something like that – you get the point).
Notice that I was careful to use the word “some” above because I don’t truly know the spiritual condition of another person and can’t give you an exact number. Like I said, I just sensed something about them based on my own Spirit-led condition and possibly confirmed to me by their words and behaviors. (We don’t need to go into specifics.)
All this said, my compassion meter for these people registered in the “red” zone. I found myself praying for them without disrupting their work and concentration. I looked for an opportunity to share Jesus and I hoped that they would see a little bit of Jesus in me. After all, they might sense that Someone was working behind the scenes.
If you should ever find yourself in a similar situation, please take a few extra moments to make that connection with someone. Listen to that woman, pray for that man – be compassionate! Your gesture might be the one and only act of kindness that leads them to the real Reason for the season. Merry Christmas and God Bless!
Lanny Smith is a Christian, a former “Class B+” surfer and a veteran of the U. S. Air Force. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida. His novel, THE RADICAL RIDE, is an explosive, suspense-thriller. You can visit www.TheChristmasBeacon.com to learn more about his new novella and the real story behind it.