people watching | Robert & Kay Camenisch

Image result for image of a man in a woodworking shop We had a refreshing visit with John. He was cordial, gracious, interesting, and entertaining–in a subtle sort of way. He was one of those people that make you ask, “Tell me more.”

We met him Monday when we went to pick up something at his home. Our visit lasted much longer than the errand required. We were fascinated by the projects he was working on or had recently completed and would’ve liked to stay longer, hear more of his story, and see even more. He seemed accomplished at anything he attempted, but was quite humble as he shared.

I believe it was his humility and joy of life that made our visit so delightful, but something else stood out to me first. While looking at woodworking equipment in his shop, he showed us some beautiful wooden goblets and said, “My wife loves wood, so I made her these.”

Next, John showed us a not-yet-complete table that he designed and is making because his wife wanted it. As we noted other things he had done, it was nearly always because she wanted it. He told us matter-of-factly, but joy was evident in his tone. The thought put into the work and the excellence in the tasks also spoke of his love for her.

Shortly after we got there, his wife walked a good distance from the house to the shop to bring him two pieces of bacon to eat for his breakfast. He left for the shop before breakfast was prepared, so she made sure he had a little in his stomach to keep him going. I was blessed by witnessing their caring relationship after what I would guess was fifty years of marriage.

I’ve kept remembering snippets of our visit and wish all marriages were built on such love and selfless giving one for the other. A happy marriage requires sacrifice, but I’m sure there would be fewer divorces if the sacrifice were always expressed with such love and joy.

That visit also led me to wonder what people experience when they meet us for the first time. Do they sense love and joy in our marriage? Are they blessed to be in our home or to be with us for a brief time? Do they want to stay longer and hear more? Do they leave with a smile on their faces and in their hearts? I would hope so, but out of that visit, I’ve determined to be more giving and less self-serving.

While caring for our elderly parents, I was aware that the act of sacrificial giving for the good of another led to deeper love for that person. How much more would that be true in a marriage relationship?

However, out of our visit, the question that has haunted me most concerns my relationship with God. I didn’t pick up anything that indicated John was a Christian, but out of our visit, I’ve wondered if when people interact with me, do they experience my love for the Lord in the way I felt John’s love for his wife?

He obviously joyed in pleasing his wife. He spent time, energy, thought and creativity in his service to her. It wasn’t a burden to him. He enjoyed it because he loved her. Furthermore, he was quick to speak of her. It didn’t bother him to say that she was his motivation and that he was working for her.

Oh, what a testimony it would be to the world if those of us who call ourselves Christian, glowed with such a love and joy in our relationship with Jesus Christ and in eager, joyful service for Him.

After all, our lives are a testimony, a letter which He has written on our hearts, known and read by all men (see 2 Cor. 3:1-3). Others are watching and are reading our lives to see what it’s like to walk with the Lord.

We are living letters whether we realize it or not. What are others reading?

After the, “Amen,” the six-year-old looked at us and said, “You really love God, don’t you?”

When Robert and I took our little friend for a hamburger, we held hands and had a blessing before we ate. It seems that she was not accustomed to doing that with her family, at least not in public.

Another time, we prayed before eating while in Brazil with two of our sons. We raised our heads to see a man leaning over the corner of our table with tears in his eyes. He said, “One of these days, I will be doing this with my family.”

He confessed to having been unfaithful as a husband and father. His sinful lifestyle had destroyed his family. He’d become a Christian a year earlier, and his deepest desire was to see his family come to know the Lord and for the family to be restored.

You might think, “Why not pray silently while putting my napkin in my lap? Does it matter if I bow to pray at McDonald’s? ”

Does it matter?

What we do does matter. At both of these events, we were going about life. We were being ourselves, doing what we do.

We had no idea that we were being watched. Our little friend observed and understood that we love God. At breakfast, the stranger saw that we love God and each other. It brought him to tears as it quickened a longing deep in his heart.

These situations made Paul’s words to the Corinthians come alive for me, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all” (2 Cor. 3:2).

Paul didn’t need other people to write letters commending him to newcomers, because people could just look at the Corinthians to see the effect of Paul’s message in their lives.

Robert’s recent visit to see pastors his father worked with while planting churches in Brazil renewed the awareness that people read our lives and it matters what we do.

Time after time, people who knew his parents told of events or conversations that occurred through the course of their service there. Nothing big or spectacular, but lessons were learned that have never been forgotten.

One woman told of going to the country for a party for a young lady who was getting married. While preparing to go, she and her friend talked about how Robert’s mother always looked nice, so they worked to dress accordingly, adding jewelry to look their best. They copied what they learned from watching her life.

However, when she arrived to pick them up, she paused after greeting them. She asked, “Have you thought about who we’re going to see? These people don’t have much. I think they’d be more comfortable if we dress simply when we visit with them.” She very kindly and gently sent them back to dress more simply.

She was living her life of caring about others. They never forgot the lesson, and they loved her for it.

We do not live in a vacuum. We are letters whether we like it or not, and whether we realize it or not. The way we live reflects upon our family, our school or place of business, our church, and—if we call ourselves Christian—on our God.

As we go about life, people notice whether we are angry and judgmental or kind and loving. What they read in us may be their only letter of recommendation about Jesus. It could lead them turn their backs on Him.

On the other hand, many people have given their lives to the Lord because of the righteousness, peace, and joy they see in a believer.

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation . . . to be known and read by all” (2 Cor. 3:2).

It does matter. The way we live matters every day.

May we be mirrors that reflect the goodness of God, giving glory and honor to Him.

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships

Living Letters

Does It Matter?