Including Ourselves – March 23, 2003
There are many who sit on the sidelines of life, who stare at the dance floor from a dark corner never imagining themselves with a partner who takes them by the hand and leads them to a better place. A place where smiles abound and social judgments don’t exist. We all want to be chosen first—for whatever it is; and not be left out.
Watch the first day in a Kindergarten class and you see the social order of the entire human race. There are those who excitedly skip to the front of the class; those who wait for someone else to lead the way, and those who are too shy to move at all. We often talk about including others. Many of the shy ones just need a little encouragement. But sometimes, we need to include ourselves.
The Apostle Peter was faithful to Jesus; he followed Him, learned of Him, even taught His teachings. But when the political tide turned and Christ was being mocked, Peter stood back in the dark corner, eyes to the floor, waiting for someone to lead him. When asked, he even denied the Savior. Peter lacked the courage to include himself when it mattered most. And he suffered for it. How many of us are waiting on the sidelines, looking for signs that others are betraying us when we should be looking for ways to get involved?
An adopted boy from East India moved into a small town with his family. The kids there had never seen a boy from India. Even though VeJay was no different from them on the inside, they went out of their way to exclude him. The first day on the playground, he asked a group of boys if he could play basketball. The answer was no. “Ok,” he said, “How about tomorrow?” And of course, VeJay was there the next day, and the next until finally they needed another player. He became close friends with the boys, and still is today. He included himself when others wouldn’t. To be happy, to be included, sometimes all it takes is a little persistence.
Of course, there is a good ending to the Apostle Peter’s story too. He was given another chance to declare his beliefs and commitment to the resurrected Savior. In the end, he had the courage to step forward and include himself, proving, that it is never too late to get involved, to be a part of something wonderful.
Program #3840
Stephen Wunderli