I have found it very difficult to always know my place for saying things.
I work at Tim Hortons in the town that is close to our house. I have only been working there a couple of weeks. I am liked by both managers and do not mind the work at all, however, what bothers me is the way people treat each other in that work environment.
PREVIOUS to working to this Tim Hortons I worked at another Tim Hortons for 2 years where I was harrashed by the managers and a few co-workers because of my faith
Anyways, there is this man Ahmed who I work with. Ahmed is this nice man who works hard to make money for himself and his family. He and his family are all refugees from Pakistan; fleeing from a place where their lives were constantly at risk. Before moving to Canada, Ahmed was a math professor, however, now that he is in Canada, can no longer use his gifts and works at Tim Hortons.
People at Tim Hortons however, do not always give him the same respect that they give the other workers. I have heard people say things like, 'what an idiot', or 'he so stinkin' slow I could do it three times as fast as him'
These comments make me so angry, it makes me want to say, 'oh yeah?! why don't you stop making fun of him and get off your lazy butt and do it for him then?'
It frustrates me so much. He is a person and deserves to be treated like any other person. God created and loves him just as much as he loves anyone else. What makes it difficult however, is that I can repremand the other workers and tell them how what they are saying is wrong, but its when the people who have more senority at the Tim Hortons start saying it, what then? Do I risk my job by saying telling them they are wrong for treating him differently than everyone else? I believe thats what Jesus would have done and its what I want to do. However, I need the job in order to make money for school so have been praying for Ahmed and have been purposly going out of my way to love him. I don't completely know if this is the way God wants me to live in this situation, however, until I know differently, thats how I going about it.
When I think about what Jesus would have said about this situation, I think about what he said in Matthew 25:40 "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you do for me." So, showing love to Ahmed is loving Jesus. The situation with Ahmed reminds me of other times where I have found myself in a place making preasumtions about people on the street or even people who come into the church. I make preassumptions or judgements and don't take the time to talk to them or understand why they are there. It also makes me think of the lyrics to the Casting Crowns song If We Are the Body which says,
If we are the body,
why aren't his arms reaching,
why aren't his hands healing?
why aren't his words teaching?
And if we are the body,
why aren't his feet going?
why is his love not showing?
It is just a reminder to me once again to love people, all people, not just the people that are easy to love or understand, but also the outcasts, nerds, weirdos.... like Jesus.
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