002: the outcast

Dia duit dairrin!

I have been thinking a lot about the outcast. No, not the ones that sing “Hey Ya”. That’s OutKast. I’m thinking of those who struggle to find a place in the world. For me, it was feeling “too Christian” in one circle and “not Christian enough” in another. Its a hard place to be in. Feeling like the subtle differences are so loud, what’s the point of interacting? Well, God has given me a new perspective on this.

Its not necessarily that this feeling is inherently bad, its more that I miss an opportunity. That feeling is precious information. Instead of looking at it as a deficiency, look at it as a bridge. You know what to look for and can help others. 

So you might say, “that’s great, but what does that look like?” Well, I’m glad you asked. A lot of it is noticing others. This can be asking someone questions about themselves. This can be saying thank you to someone who is serving in some way. This could even be talking to people who don’t receive conversation like service workers. Think about the situations you wished people interacted with you. Something that has really helped me is having a community that does this. I observe my favorite people and use the pieces that help people the most. 

With this information, how will you embrace this new perspective? How will you make someone feel more loved than they did before you interacted with them? Please come back to to this post and update me! 

Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine — we all live in each other’s shelters

Katie