Learning to Love People (maybe Part 1)

Our Creator is so creative in His uniqueness.

Lesson #4. God sends many kind, interesting people across our paths in life.

‘You must love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
A second is equally important:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22: 37-39 NLT

Who is my neighbor?

In Jesus’ familiar story of the Good Samaritan, He answers that question from both directions. The racially-religious outcast (Samaritan) was “a good neighbor” to the needy, beaten and destitute man (his “suffering neighbor”). So in a sense we are all “neighbors” to each other. I guess the question is do we pay attention to those around us and reach out?

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:1-3 NLT

What is “Hospitality”?

It’s not just inviting someone into your home for dinner or having someone as an overnight guest. No, it’s much more… it’s “welcoming” a person to yourself, “receiving” a person (don't miss this meditation).

My friend Barb does this so beautifully. I often say to her,“Barb, you are the most genuinely hospitable person I know!”

our fave fill-up station (for gas, food, and, of course, coffee

TRAVELING TO TUCSON …

And as we have traveled, we have experienced this “hospitality” everywhere we’ve been — making eye contact with people and vice versa, asking each other where we are from, hearing of other’s travels and goals, being extra helpful. Yes, sometimes it’s their jobs, but doing it with a smile and extra kindness.

And many of these precious “neighbors” didn’t speak our language, weren’t part of our culture or religion, maybe even “illegal” (equally loved by God!). But each are precious in God’s sight (and ours)… “neighbors,” even though “angel-strangers.” Many were those who served us in hotels, gas stations, and various places along the way. Extra kind and helpful!

We often had the opportunity to share the gospel. We did so simply, through Living Water books and nice $ tips. Most often, they were graciously received.

order info —- free gospel of john including plan of salvation

IN TUCSON …

Noture walk at tohono chul botanical garden — our docent and fellow hikers

Once in Tucson, we encountered more lovely people…old and new friends, fellow hikers and tour groups, U of A students, and even a campus “preacher” from Ohio!

1. A long-time friend — Steve Poling, brother in the Lord

We had a lovely visit with a long time friend Steve Poling, the husband of my AZ childhood friend Monica, who went home to her Lord last year. I was in their wedding back in 1968. And they had helped me register at the huge (to me) U of A campus when I came as a student. So much interaction with each other over the years! So lots of reminiscing, as you can imagine.

2. A new “friend” and sister-author, Karla Dornacher

meeting for the first Time for brunch and a 3-hour conversation!

When my friend Cindy learned John & I were traveling out West, she sent me a beautiful quote on traveling with God by an unknown-to-me artist-author. Cindy had been tracking with Karla’s artwork and writing for a longtime. I used the shared quote in my first travel blog (read it here, Car Trip with my God and my Guy). I wanted to give Karla credit for her lovely thoughts, so Cindy sent me her contact info along with the amazing detail that Karla lives in … guess where? … TUCSON! So because of her kind invitation to meet, we spent three straight hours together — so much in common (including love for the Lord and similar writing style…but definitely not artistic ability, although I often “paint spiritual pictures” with words/metaphors). So now I have a lovely new Arizona best friend.
Be sure to visit my new friend Karla on her Substack for her beautiful words and artwork (including free downloads) https://karladornacher.substack.com
and shop with her on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/karladornacher

3. A campus missionary/evangelist from OH, Tom Carlisle

Tom carlisle, humble, genuine, sincere, traveling campus missionary

Our first encounter with Tom took place just yesterday as we visited our Alma Mater, the University of Arizona campus. John calls it …

Divine Appointment on the Mall

After shopping at the campus bookstore at the University of Arizona, we stepped toward the nearby iconic mall area of the campus (think, National Mall in Washington, D.C.) to reminisce about crisscrossing the mall 55 years ago as we attended classes. On our way we passed through the luxurious shade of some huge trees that may have been there when we attended the school. In the midst of that shade was a middle-aged man passing out some leaflets. Not taking much notice of such typical campus activity, we moved out into the bright Arizona sunlight.
After taking a few pictures to record our renewed presence on the mall, we once again entered the shadow of the trees. The man had engaged a passer-by who had received one of his leaflets. We overheard the man ask him, “Do you have a Bible?” Now that was interesting! Not interrupting that conversation, we continued on, but noticed that engagement ended with the exchange of a Bible. The man was now free to talk, and Jan took the opportunity to investigate.
Come to find out, Tom, an ordinary, humble believer, from Ohio, near Granville, had just recently transitioned from part time to full time support with a mission organization reaching campuses in the US and overseas. He travels from campus to campus handing out testimony leaflets of those who have come to Christ. After listening to a number of his experiences sharing Jesus faith, we commended him to ministry with smiles, hugs, and handshakes. He was rejoicing in our divine appointment of Ohioans on the campus of the University of Arizona, where we ourselves had experienced turning points in our journeys with Jesus.

If you are interested to learn more about this sincere, God-and-people-loving man of God, here is some of his information:

4. U of A students

Yesterday we drove down to the U of A campus … yes, first of all, for the bookstore, of course. The student clerks were so helpful and cheerful. We were obviously either alumni (yes, 1971!) or grandparents (yes, but not of U of A students).

But as we walked the campus, I realized these lovely students were the age of our oldest grandsons (Kaden at Illinois State University & Evan at Wright State). I had the amazing feeling that we were walking with them in their “context” on their campuses.
And when we were struggling to take a selfie in front of Old Main (the historic first campus building), a kind student saw these two old struggling alumni. He stopped and offered to take our photo — what a gift!

in front of the mall by the “student union”

So now our Arizona adventure is ending. We will be on the road again to our next stop in Dallas for the Network 22 Conference.
More beautiful people along the way…

YOUR TURN, Dear Reader

Have there been any interesting people come across your path? Any divine appointments? We would love to hear about them… please share (in the comments below) as you feel led …

A Branch in the Vine