Travelling in Israel, I can’t help but notice the diversity of people, languages, and cultures. What a rich land in more ways than one! Languages in the hotels and on the streets set apart nationalities. Dress often sets apart people of different faiths. I’ve heard people from Germany, India, Australia, France, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Korea, and of course, both Hebrew and Arabic-speaking people from Israel. I’ve seen Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Druids, Franciscans, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Christians.

And I wonder…how am I set apart? I’m not just talking about how I dress or the doors I walk through to worship. And I’m not just talking about how I know I’m set apart because of my personal faith.

What assumptions do I want others to make about me? What assumptions do others make about me that I want to debunk?

It’s not about what others think because I want to please others. I’m not going to please everyone – and that’s okay. Sometimes conflict or just a brief disagreeable contact or conversation can end up growing another person – and me. It’s not about everything going smoothly.

It’s about being where I’m supposed to be and who I’m supposed to be and doing what I’m supposed to do to please God. When I’m doing that, how others respond to me are of secondary importance (but important because God created me for relationships and I should always be sensitive to those around me).

Am I following God with enough abandon that others see him in me?

How about you?