Role

Southern California has hundreds, no thousands of different types of people.  All of stereotypes are here.  I cannot imagine imaging this many different types of combinations.  In contrast to London, with the exception of exotic hair colors (London has more), there are so many more examples of human beings.  In the midst of it all I wonder what types of people they are inside.  What kind of jobs do they have?  Where do they live?  Would they be willing to share a story from their journey?
 
In my short time here I have found great examples of the “best” we offer to each other.  The grubby tire store stands out – for their ethics and kindness in the midst of dirt, grime, and d?cor which seemed to stretch back into the forties.  A lighting store comes to mind – someone had found their passion!  Who else would be able to cite examples across eighteen different catalogs, readily willing to tell anyone interested on the lighting history of the company and their designers?  Even Starbucks was a little different than the norm; loyal to the corporate brand but honest, critical, and human at the same time (Ethos water is clearly over priced!). 
 
People often try to understand who and what we represent.  The questions posed are not knew, even in Jesus’ day the obvious wasn’t so clear.  Pilate, a Roman ruler of the Jews, found himself asking, “‘So, are you a king or not?’
 
Jesus answered, ‘You tell me.  Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth.  Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.’” (John 18.37)
 
You and I can be bearers of truth to the world.  Opportunities abound to represent compassion, mercy, and love – truth which others can sense, know, and experience.  This is our real role in life if we are willing to come to grips with reality.  Far too often I hide.  Today will be different – if only for myself, the girls, and the people I meet.