When I wrote in my last post about pressing into those that you may not want to love on, I didn't know that God was going to give me such a bold, real-life application of that. (although, I've been a Christ-follower long enough to know to expect it!) Last week, I had an opportunity to work at a trade show for an amazing company, with some super awesome people, promoting their product and engaging customers at their booth. Part of the public relations was to have a real-life mascot, and I was designated as the one that would walk around with him and do promotions. The company hired a man from a temp agency in that area, and when he showed up the first day, it took about 3 minutes into our conversation to find out that he was a convicted felon. He had served a 14 year prison sentence for murder, and he had only been free for 2.5 years. Okaaaayyyy....so what was I supposed to say that??? I'm pretty sure my face showed the shock I was feeling, but looking back, I think I just carried on with the conversation, as if he had just told me that he had oatmeal for breakfast.

I didn't fear for my life--the man was there for a paycheck--but the problem now was that subconsciously, I thought I was better than him. I thought that because I lived a "better" life and hadn't made choices like he had, that somehow I was above him. He had a dialect that made it hard to understand him, he smelled like smoke, and let me remind you that he had been in prison. For homicide. So, it was time to practice what I preach. To get closer (literally, because he spoke softly and I could hardly hear him), to spend time getting to know him for the person God had created him to be, to show him the same love and attention that I was showing the people walking around in business suits.