Refreshing Others

 

The Houston Airport had a problem. Over and over, a major complaint from its customers was that they had to wait too long for their bags after the flight. So, the executives worked to address the issue. They added new staff, streamlined the process and were able cut wait time from as long as 30 minutes in some cases to an average of only 8 minutes. Still, complaints kept pouring in. They did everything they could to shrink the time, but 8 minutes was about as fast as they were going to get. Yet, irate customers still bemoaned the delay. It was odd because the 8 minutes was well within the standard for most airports, but other locations didn’t face an onslaught of complaints. That's when the administrators realized the real problem. The walk from the disembarking gate to baggage claim at Houston was a short 1-minute walk. In most other airports the journey was an average of 5 to 10 minutes. It wasn’t the 8-minute delay itself that was the problem; it was the fact that people had to stand around doing nothing during that time. When the airport moved the gates and carousels farther apart, making the journey 6 minutes and the idle time only two minutes, complaints disappeared.

Rayden Overbay is a special needs youngster from Yukon, Oklahoma. At 12 years of age, he became somewhat famous because of the terrible way he was treated. A video of him being bullied went viral on social media. He was bullied to such a degree - he felt such shame - that he had written on his arm, “I want to kill myself.” What can be done in such a situation? How can we help someone recover? What is the remedy for the shame that they feel? Being from Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma Sooners football team took it upon themselves to try and make things right. They made him a special guest at one of their home games. Rayden was given a game ball. He was put in front of the entire team, and he was made to feel that he was important and special. Even Jalen Hurts told Rayden that they were brothers and that he always had his back. The young man who had been teased, taunted, and torn down was now praised and elevated. This is what we are told we need to do to properly process and deal with our shame: (1) to be given kind words of praise and (2) to be restored or elevated to a new standing.

[1 John 1:5-10] Now, consider what the Lord Jesus does for repentant sinners who continue to deal with their shame of past sin: “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5; Hebrews 2:11; 11:16; Zephaniah 3:19). Through Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we are lifted up out of our shameful state of sin. We are praised as part of God’s family. We are placed in a position of glory! Our submission and obedience to Jesus the Christ is the remedy. The blood of Jesus cleanses, washes, makes new and thus is the remedy for sin and shame!

One of my all-time favorite passages of scripture is found in Philemon 7. There, the apostle Paul commended Philemon “For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Every Christian could be like that with a little work on the matter of “attitude.” Unfortunately, some who profess to be Christians just never seem to “get it” concerning the importance of having a Christ-like spirit and spend most of their lives “out of sorts,” disgruntled and unhappy. Isn't there enough “doom and gloom” in the world already without Christians adding to it? Are others refreshed when they see you coming? Let your light shine before others.