how are YOU?

i love watching people interact with each other. sometimes i am quiet because i am observing. and i like that. in my observations, i have realized just how fake some people are. and unfortunately, most of the people i have been around and observed this behavior from are christians. 

so, i am blunt. but, it is the truth. 

and this is surprising to me. we are taught to be authentic and loving and to be like Christ, but yet somewhere along our journey we started skimming the surface. we never took that plunge into the deep waters. 

i have been away from my hometown for a few months now. and it is always interesting to run into people from there. i love the awkward "how are you" conversations. the ones where you can tell that person doesn't really care to know. i would almost rather have them not ask instead of being fake about it. just be yourself. if you don't like me, fine. don't pretend to care. 

in times like that i try to imagine what it was like to run into Jesus. [not trying to be cheesy here, keep following me] i can only imagine the look in His eyes when He would ask, "How are you?". It would truly be from His heart. 

and isn't that how we should be? loving for the sake of loving? not loving because that person did something for you, or you did something for them. not because they drive a bmw or wear the cutest clothes. not because the prove to you how christian they are... but because of love. because God loved us first and we should in turn love Him and others. that same compassion you feel for the hurting children in Africa you should feel for the person standing next to you in the line at the gas station. 

take a dive into the deep end, friends. it is refreshing.