A Lesson from Omar
I knelt to introduce myself, “Hi, what’s your name?”
A single word came from his sun-weathered lips, “Omar.”
“Omar, I’m Mary. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?”
“Do you want to get me something?'“
His tender response challenged my heart and my motives. It wasn’t a request but rather an invitation. He didn’t expect, demand, or beg to have his belly filled. The only thing his response begged was an honest answer. At that moment, my mouth spoke the words that welled up within the depths of my soul, “Yes. Yes, Omar, I do. What would you like?”
Softly his response came, “A ham sandwich.”
Sandwich in hand, again I knelt. Omar smiled gently and reached out to shake my hand. As our hands touched, our words came nearly in unison, “God bless you!”
And this was both the beginning and end of our friendship.
I may have left that spot on the Indy sidewalk, but weeks later, my heart is still stuck on Omar. I am learning daily from our encounter as I mull those brief moments over and over in my mind. Mainly, it is his invitation to serve him that stirs deep within my soul reminding me of Christ’s call on my life, a call to live in service to Him by loving others.
In John 21:15-17, Jesus challenges Peter with an invitation to serve. The passage is based on 2 prior events, (1) Jesus predicted that when times got hard, Peter would betray their friendship, and (2) Peter denies knowing Jesus not once but three different times.
Jesus is then led away to be crucified, dead, and buried. Then after the third day he rose again and reappeared to his disciples. And this is where John 21:15-17 picks up…
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
This same invitation has greeted me every morning since my encounter with Omar. As I kneel in the morning, I hear Christ whisper his invitation, “Mary, do you love me?” And my heart cries, “Yes. Yes, Jesus, I do!” Tenderly He challenges me, “Then feed my sheep,” and assigns me the task of putting others needs before my own, meeting their deadlines ahead of schedule, caring for their broken or weary hearts, and letting go of all I desire in exchange for the chance to serve.
Though my heart cries, “Yes,” dying to myself does not come easily. And frequently, the selfish girl within me wins out because this dying is costly and even painful at times. But with the dawning of each new day, the tender challenge comes again, inviting me into love and service.
Let us pray,
Dear Jesus, help me die to my desires so that I am free to serve you well. Forgive me for the times I have chosen to ignore your invitation to love and service. Thank you for your constant love and grace. Amen