The Least of These

We often think we need to wait for momentous circumstances before doing the good we are asked to do. Perhaps driving a van load of specialists to help in refugee camps or coordinating training for the hard-to-reach peoples of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Maybe organizing a clothes-collection drive for the needy or sending survival items to those living in medical isolation. But what about the smaller things around us that we tend to neglect? The blank faces that pass us on our daily commute? The searching eyes we are afraid to look into? The outstretched hands we are afraid to touch? The old man who sweeps the roads around the block I live on often raises his hand in a high-five gesture. Mostly, I respond with a bright “Hello,” or I raise my own high five that breezes past his upheld hand—close but never quite touching. Today was different. Something made me connect my high five to his. The connection remains etched in my mind. As our two hands touched, it took a moment for it to sink in that my hand had actually touched his. Then his toothless grin broke into mirth, and his cackle was so loud I was caught by surprise, as were the passersby who witnessed this exchange.

At first, the look of censure on one face escalated into outright disdain at me for touching dirty, unwashed hands. On the other side of the road, surprised, bemused looks greeted me. Perhaps some who are reading this right now might wonder about my seemingly rash act of touching dirt-infested hands that may have touched goodness knows what! But the chain reaction was priceless. I treasure it still. As the old man danced a little jig, a cheer from another road sweeper filled the air, and broad smiles spread across the faces of onlookers.

The austere looks melted into smiles and unspoken thoughts of What did I just witness? For a little while, everyone present was bathed in the joy of this one shared moment. Whatever we do not do for the least of these, we do not do for Jesus! What does God’s Word challenge us to do? How is the Disciple Maker inviting us to show His love to the least of these?

Jessy Quilindo