assumptions

When I see strangers, my immediate assumption is that they are not followers of Jesus.  This is not based on their actions or words- this is just my subconscious perception of the world in which I live.  Of course, there are plenty of strangers that I pass everyday that probably are followers of Jesus, and plenty more that will be someday.  God challenged me the other day while I was sitting on the subway, taking in my surroundings, to view others as though they could be Jesus-followers now or at some point in their lives.  I think this is a way to live with Jesus' eyes for the world- seeing people as what God wants them to become and not just what they are now.  Living in New York, I often become very discouraged by the despair and hopelessness I see everyday.  This new way of seeing people is helping me to live with a renewed sense of hope- for individual lives, for this city, for our world.