A few years back I was pastoring a new church and we didn’t have any money. We constantly struggled to make ends meet. As the sole provider for our family, I was continually filled with fear about how we were going to pay bills every month. I tried not to whine about it much, but I rarely got a good night’s sleep for worrying over it. It was awful.
At some point my glasses broke that I’d bought back when I served a larger church and had a good salary. Since we didn’t have the spare money to buy me new ones, I used some cheap reading glasses that you buy at the dollar store to get by. On Sundays when I preached, I’d put my glasses on while reading a Bible passage. Then I’d take them off to talk to everybody. So my whole message they were on and off again.
One day the phone rang. It was a member of my church named Hector. He said, “Listen, this Friday I want you to meet me at Sam’s Club. OK? We’re going to get those eyes of yours fixed up!”
Hector and his wife were local pediatricians. They had immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic. Since they spoke fluent Spanish, they had built a practice caring for our local Hispanic population. He and his wife were warm and kind to everyone in his office, especially those who were very poor.
He had even helped me out, who had no health care and couldn’t afford to see a general practitioner. It was quite a striking image – a white US native given charity by a Latino immigrant. But giving was what Hector did better than anything. So I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear from him.
When I met him that Friday, it was clear he wasn’t helping me out of obligation. He was excited to be there. It was as if giving was his favorite pastime.
Every time the optometrist asked if I wanted a special feature for the glasses, Hector would say “yes” before I could protest.
Progressive lenses? Of course.
Do you want them to darken in sunlight automatically? Certainly.
Rimless frames? Of course! “Pastor, if you’re a communicator, you don’t want anything blocking your eyes. People need to see them clearly…”
When I picked them up about a week later, my happiness wasn’t just because I could finally leave my “readers” behind. Wearing these new glasses, I felt more loved and appreciated than I could remember before. I was reminded God was taking care of me, even with little money in the bank and minimal income. And it was all because one man who didn’t owe me anything showed me Jesus’ love.
Sometimes these days it seems people like Hector are the exception to the rule. To be completely honest, though I’m a pastor, I don’t really like some people. Many I’ve met are nothing like my friend Hector. Too many are selfish and seem to think they are the only people who matter on the planet.
I know we’re taught to believe everyone is good on the inside. That gives you a positive outlook on life, they say. But it’s simply not accurate. It’s one thing to try to be positive, it’s quite another to live in denial. And believing people are naturally good will set you up for a lifetime of disappointment.
I used to help people and expect they would be nice back to me. That was evidence of my ignorance. Now I try to help them simply out of obedience to God with no expectations. I don’t really expect anyone to return my kindness, and I certainly don’t expect friendship from them. I’ve learned true friends are a rarity in this world.
I think Jesus realized that too, the closer He got to the cross.
Today, I was back at Sam’s Club again. Seems I have a rare condition that’s makes me have to get a new prescription every few years – aging!
But today I’m paying for my own glasses. I’ve got a job in a church that pays me a good salary. That may not sound like much to you, but it’s a big deal to me. Honestly, it feels good not being at the mercy of others. I guess my pride can only stand so much humility.
More than anything, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude thinking about that old pair. I remember when my friend Hector treated me like his own son. How nothing was too good for his friend, Pastor Dave. How blessed I am!
I know Hector is an outlier when it comes to many folks you meet. But God has put the Hectors there to blow our cynicism out of the water. God’s not trying to prove to us that people really are good. Instead, God proves that HE is good, and He’ll work through anyone who’s willing.
He’ll even work through you and me too, if we let Him.
How about in this age where rudeness is the rule, let’s determine to be the exception to the rule? Don’t let the “walking dead” around us win.
Be a Hector. In a world of darkness, set yourself on fire with goodness. Hopefully, the world will gather to watch you burn bright.
And if you’ve given up on finding goodness in the world, I’ve got a friend you should talk to. In fact, I can get you an appointment even if you have no money. That friend helped me to see so much better than I could before.
Thanks to Hector, I was able to see Jesus working right in front of my eyes. Maybe now, people will see Him work through me too.
