Is It Business As Usual
Romans 12:2-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. 3For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. 4For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, 5So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].
I have said many times in my life, I think I learn something new every day. Some lessons are good, helpful and they aid me in improving my life and the lives of others, but then there are other lessons that hurt, and cause discomfort and pain. But I have learned that these lessons also come to teach, and they come to assist in the growth and awareness of my life as it pertains to how I deal with and interact with others. I have found in this season in my life, not everyone is compassionate or cares for people as they would hope to be cared for. They take that “its business as usual” attitude and they never consider, if they were walking in the shoes of the other person how would they want to be dealt with, treated, cared for and considered. I believe things happen for a reason even though we may not understand those reasons. I have learned that people that have not experienced real lose in their lives, can never relate to what someone else is going through. They may be sympathetic, but empathy is not something that they can grasp, because they have not walked in those shoes, but if they have Christ in their lives they can pray and ask for wisdom and guidance and for God to open up their understanding to the needs of others.
What if we stopped for a moment and considered that we are all a part of each other, all a part of one body, one big picture, and if one part is injured, hurting or incapacitated, the question should be asked, what is my part in their healing, or how can I help. So many times we get caught up in business as usual and getting a job done we lack the capacity and thought to consider anyone else and what they may be going through, encountering or enduring, because we are focused on a job or a mission at hand. But God made us to be a help, an assistance, and aid to one another. He asked us to bare the infirmities of those weaker than us, to be helpers on of another and to love our neighbors as we would love ourselves. That means considering someone other than ourselves and what we need to get done. It is sad to think that we have lost sight of our calling to God which is to encourage, uplift, instruct, assist and help one another. To really follow Chirst means being selfless, it is a sacrificial walk. The sadder fact is that one day we all are in a place to need, help, in need of care, in need of assistance and understanding, but what have we sown into people that we will be able to reap the harvest of when our time comes around?
Life is not business as usual, and the people that God entrust us with or placed in our lives in any capacity are not to be just handled, or thoughtlessly dealt with. Jesus as He walked the earth was filled with compassion, moved with empathy and He wept from the pain of loss, why is it we do not follow His example, why are we so caught up in our show, we forget we are only one part of a bigger picture, and when one hurts we all should feel or seek to bare that pain in some way, because a part of who we are is in distress. I have learned, that yes I am important, but that the whole is even more important and the needs of others are far more important than my little task, or corner of the world. If we only understood that we are only as good as our weakest parts, we would seek to strengthen, and not to make weaker or tear down, seek to lift the burden instead of add to it, we would seek to think before we speak and act, instead of just thinking of ourselves, or disregarding the needs of someone else. Today let it not be business as usual, think about those in your circle, surroundings, family and what they may be enduring. Ask yourself what is my role and how can be a help and not a hindrance, how can I assist in healing and not adding to their pain. What is it that God would have me to do? Am I doing the best by them, am I treating them the way I would want to be treated in the same situation? When we can earnestly look beyond us and see others we understand that it is NEVER business as usual!
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