A thought from Jason
June 7, 2001
Personal Space
Have you ever had something happen to you and then you stop dead in your tracks thinking, " What just happened"?
Later on in my trip to the Outback I was shopping in the Todd mall when all I saw something in the corner of my eye. Someone was in my personal space! How dare they! I'm an American I said in my first thoughts, why do these people like to make me feel uncomfortable. So the young man stayed right behind me for he longest time. I could smell him. I could hear him talking to his buddy behind us when I decided to do something drastic. Yes, something drastic… that will show him! I will give him a dirty look so he will know that he is violating my space.
We all have space problems you know. I mean some people like being really close to others while others like being well you know, distant from physical contact. We all have a thing called our personal bubble and mine was being invaded by guess who? It was a young aboriginal man.
Now within one second I remembered what I had written before but as soon as he made his move I forgot everything that Jesus would have done. I still can't figure out why this guy wanted to bump me but I can guess. What happened is somewhat comical now that I think about it. When I decided to give him " the dirty look" I turned my head quickly and put on my warrior face. I thought that would scare him away. The only thing was that it accelerated the problem. As soon as I gave him the look, he was off, darting in front of me and piling into me with everything that he had. He bumped me so hard that I lost my balance. Stunned I just stopped in my tracks. I had a coke in my left hand. Maybe he wanted that? Maybe he wanted to prove to his buddy that he could start a fight with me? My head can go around and around on why he wanted to bump me.
The whole point was that I was encountered with losing my personal space with someone I didn't even know or care about. Was I mad? I have to admit that I was. Now I am not because I learned something. Do you know what that something is?
Its found in Psalm 84: 5, " Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on a pilgrimage".
You see my strength in Gods love faded when I lost my precious personal space. Big Deal! I need to lose my personal space once and awhile to reach out to those who need to know what Jesus acts like. Instead of giving that person a dirty look, or evil thought, I need to pray for them. I need to put on the mind of Jesus and know that my pilgrimage is to the heart of God.
The pilgrimage won't be easy because Satan will find your weakness and pound on it. You know when a boxer hits a punching bag; he or she hits it hard. They don't practice by missing or hitting the bag softly they hit the bag with all they have. And so will Satan.
He will see you on the path heading towards being more like Jesus and He will hit you right across the face. What should you do, you ask? Wipe the sorry look off your face and look at Jesus. Get up and keep marching! Get up and tell Satan, no way will you have any control over me! When he throws dust in your face, keep walking; don't stop, because he will do everything to keep you from walking closer to Jesus. When you need help, don't do it on your own, scream, cry out, yell for Jesus and the dust will settle and the one you're on a journey with will pick you up, wipe the dust away and heal your wounds. He loves you.
So when your personal space is invaded or you've got someone doing something to you that doesn't seem right, don't worry. Christ had the same thing happen to Him and He still loves you.
Have a blessed day.... Jason