Pastor John Secrest put my friend to work this Sunday. There she was, handing out Small Group flyers to people as they entered WHS. She looked good, not as unhappy as when I last saw her at church. Though later on in the service, I would see her get up with all her bags from the front row and go up the aisle then return to sit down a while later.

I reached out to her, making small talk, greeting her. Her name is Terri. She responded angrily to my attempt to empathize, which took a bit of time to realize. It's OK. You did nothing wrong. Just keeping reaching out. Keep loving her.

Honestly, I am super grateful that God put her on other folks heart. It makes me thankful for my church community. It always has- how we embrace those who are difficult to love, whatever the reason. So, though Terri gets up and walks out of service or yells at me when I am trying to be nice- she keeps coming back and people keep enfolding her in.

So, let's do this. Compassion can only come from the creator of compassion Himself. Let's seek to pour mercy and compassion and love out, like the woman poured the perfume on Jesus' feet. Let's slather people in it, regardless of their response. Let's have tough skins and not be so easily wounded and retreat in to our shells when it's not easy.

For if brothers and sisters can keep going in the face of death and injury, we can keep going in the face of uncomfortable moments and uneasy conversations. We can keep going when people talk too much or talk openly about their brokenness in detail or yell at us when we are trying to be nice or don't get us and ignore our requests or when we perceive the other to be _______________(you fill in the blank).