Love the One in Front of You

For some reason, the fall season always gets increasingly scheduled in our house. It’s the beginning of the academic season, five Geverdt birthdays occur within 40 days of one another, and anniversaries and holidays weave their way into the planning. So, life feels a little blurred. 
 
One morning, I was working down my to-do list, having already checked off a few things. Next was a trip to the barber, and I arrived just minutes before it opened. As soon as the door was unlocked I was in, anticipating a quick in-and-out so as not to be late for my next appointment. I sat in the swivel chair with the cape buttoned tight against my neck, exchanging pleasantries with the stylist as she combed and cut. These trims take less and less time, as there’s not much to work with, anymore.
 
“So, are you off work today?” she asked, clipping away. “No, just out doing errands.” I was pre-occupied with where I had to be next, pre-thinking about that meeting and countless others things I needed to finish. Generally, I’m more attentive, but not this day.
 
Suddenly, a thought rose up on my inside: “Love the one in front of you.” The moment seemed to stop. “Is that you, Lord?” I thought. I know the voice of the Lord generally rises up on the inside, because His Spirit lives within us.
 
I’d heard a woman, Heidi Baker, share something similar, and it totally transformed her ministry among orphans in Africa. Actually, she said it like this: “Love looks like something. Love looks like stopping for the one. Love the one in front of you.”
 
So, I stopped thinking ahead and started being truly present in the moment. I stared back through the mirror, really listening and looking; she was one of those stylists that had a lot to say. ;)

Conversation meandered, in between the snipping of hair, but soon family and children became the topic of choice. She and her husband had a 6-year-old, and had become good friends with a single mother of three in their neighborhood. There was real challenge there and they were trying to be helpful. Frustration and stress had been building in the home. A little boy with specific needs seemed to be the focus. He seemed to react and behave very similarly to our daughter, Makayla. So, I offered some of what we had learned over the years. The stylist listened with rapt attention. I guess it was my age; I could have easily been her father. She was really interested in how to help her friend.
 
At that point, the haircut stopped and the mirror conversation began.
 
Actually, it was funny—customers that weren’t even in the store when I arrived were being seated, cut and finished in the time we were talking in my chair, but I didn’t even care.
 
A wonderful flow of compassion came forward as I emptied out thoughts and advice. Even the other stylists listened in and joined in asking questions. The more I shared, the more seemed to come.
 
“Children need to know they’re loved more than they need to be instructed, so love that little one in front of you,” I said.
 
“Wow, that’s so good!” she said, “I’m gonna call my friend as soon as I’m finished and tell her that.”
 
The next fifteen minutes felt purposeful. The presence of God was in the moment and He was supplying what was needed. Encouragement filled the room like breath fills a balloon.
 
As I paid my bill and fished for a tip from my wallet, I noticed that all the stylists were standing around the front register. I smiled and said to my gal, “God loves the way you’re loving your friend, that’s what love does. Keep up the good work. Have a great day.”
 
“You, too!” she said. “Thanks so much.”
 
Loving the one in front of you means being present in the moment. It’s a learned activity. Sadly, we blow by those moments most of the time. We are generally frustrated at the past or fixating on the future, but the place God is living and working is in the “eternal now.” In fact, it’s the place He’s promised to engage with us. So why not live more presently?
 
Mother Teresa is famous for saying: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” 
 
I love that. “Let us begin”.  I insert my own priorities so quickly. “Let us begin” again, and again, and again.
 
I’m refreshing a rule of life for myself: “Live in the present with God and love the one in front of you.”
 
This is one thing I don’t want to forget again. How about you?