A few thoughts on recent headlines…

DeKalb, Illinois. Home of the DeKalb Ag Flying Corn. Site of the coldest winter of my life (1985). Wind screaming across the prairies. If you head west out of Chicago, then travel through the seemingly endless suburbs and strip malls, eventually you’ll hit nothing but cornfields. And sticking up out of the cornfields is Northern Illinois University. I lived here for years, working with Campus Crusade for Christ at NIU. DeKalb has grown quite a bit since I lived there. They now have actual restaurants and stores and things to do! But when I was there, we’d to say, "It's not the end of the world, but you can see if from here."

Last week DeKalb became world famous because of a tragedy that focuses a glaring spotlight on how much people are hurting beneath the surface. I ministered with students on that campus. We met in the classroom where those people died. And now, the US is reeling from yet another senseless massacre.

Why? Why did this seemingly nice, hard-working graduate student open fire on these people? I don’t know. No one has all the answers to this nightmare. People have their theories, but God alone knows what happened in that man’s mind.

But I do know there are a lot of hurting individuals out there. Not just "crazy, messed-up psychopaths", but Average Joes, your friends, your neighbors, your family, yourselves. People are struggling. Hurt people hurt people. And people snap.

What is the answer?

My inbox and my voice mail testify that people are struggling. They aren't looking for pat answers. They don’t want Bible verses spouted like bumper stickers. They’re desperate for direction, for God, for connection to other people. They want to be heard. They are lonely and angry and exhausted and bitter and frightened and resentful and stressed and confused. Have you ever felt any of those emotions?

What makes the difference between someone who calls a friend and blows off stream then has a good laugh over coffee at Starbucks--and those who walk into a crowd and begin shooting? I encounter people dealing with tough issues all the time. Some just need to complain or cry a little and rant to a friend. And some are at DEFCON 1, sitting on a hair-trigger fuse, ready to explode inwardly and/or outwardly.

All around the world, complete strangers tell me their life story. My friends say that I have a sign across my forehead that says, "Tell me all about it". It can almost be comical when someone walks right up to me out of the blue and says, “I’ve never told anyone this before and I don't know why I'm telling you, but...” Strangers bee-line across a room to me and pour out their heart. I have been sitting alone on a mountain, on a beach, on a cliff and someone will pull their car over and come tell me their struggles. Sometimes people ask directly, “Are you a Christian? Can you tell me about Jesus?”

I’ve been told, "Linda, you need to perfect an expression that says, ‘Do I look like I care?’ Plaster that on your forehead and people will leave you alone.”

The sad thing is, I can give that look. I can avoid eye contact. I can shut people down before they open up.

There are limits. We need to set wise boundaries. We are not called to meet all needs at all times from all people. We won’t last a week if we do that. But it’s too easy to get so wrapped up in my own agenda that I make sure I don't see the searching eyes or notice the probing questions or hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit, calling me to be aware.

I have been called to ministry since I was a teenager. I am a pastor, teacher, counselor, missionary. But my main job description is “being a Beverly”. (See http://psalmone.org/2007_5.htm ) Being a Beverly means that I come alongside others, help them understand where they are, strengthen them see God, and encourage them follow Him from Point A to Point B.

People hear my tales of bizarre “co-incidences” and unique conversations and ask me, "How do you find these crazy people?", “Why do you attract these folks?”, “How does God bring you in touch with these situations?” Well these are your friends and coworkers, the members of your family, the check-out guy at the grocery, the couple sitting staring silently in different directions in the restaurant, the people sitting next to you in church. Often we have no idea what’s brewing right beneath the surface of those around us.

I believe that we are all surrounded by people who have their radar out, scanning the horizon for someone who might listen, who might give them a glimmer of hope, who might let them unload the toxins, someone who might be able to keep the straw from breaking the camel's back. You and I have hidden chances every day to assist people toward health or hell.

It could be as simple as a smile or a kind word. But I find that if I make eye contact and say to someone, "tell me your story", they will.

Don’t leave it to the counselors, the pastors, the teachers, the missionaries. We are the Body of Christ, and as such, we are ALL assigned to carry on His work here. Can you look directly at people? Can you say hello? Can you listen to someone; invite someone to share a bit? You are trained to do this ministry. Just feeling that we’ve been heard can start the healing. And you won’t have to search for opportunities to be used by God. If you are open and aware of those around you, the divine appointments will find you.

It takes time and energy to look beyond my self. It can be hard and painful and draining. Time, energy and giving up my own agenda for God's divine appointments...that costs us. When time and energy and caring are in short supply, life gets mean and tense and angry. And lonely, frustrated, angry, sad human beings become ticking time bombs and land mines hiding all around our loud, busy, self-absorbed society.

“Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. “ (Galatians 6:2)

It’s about being aware of people around me, listening to God, receptive to an opportunity to be a safe sounding board and an “arrow pointing to Heaven” (as Rich Mullins was described). I certainly do not have all the answers. Not even close. But I think that if we open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to notice the people around us, we just might defuse a bomb or two.

So I challenge myself and I challenge you today... What does your forehead say?

Learning to be aware,

Linda