Someone said to me tonight...

"Wow...just think, in 5 days  you will be a missionary!"

Although there is a lot of truth to that - the real truth is I will now be an international missionary.

But it made me think.  Have a been a missionary prior to this trip?

Now I'm not going to get all religious here, but I do want to say something that should be food for thought for all of us -

Take a look around you.  In your neighborhood, down your street - on the way to work and your coworkers.  The grocery story store clerk and the server at your dinner.  I think a true missionary is not just someone who goes elsewhere - a long distance - or states away to serve or help others.  I think a true missionary is someone who observes their surroundings and makes a difference for those they see - regardless of where they are at.

How often do we not see, or choose not to see, someone around us that needs a helping hand.  Someone who needs a hand up.  A listening ear.  Some encouragement.  A true missionary is willing to give of themself to help another.  It may be as simple as a heartfelt prayer, a smile and a kind word.  It could be a dinner cooked for someone, a walk shoveled or leaves raked.  It is an endless list - and we can all help and make that difference.

Aren't we all called to be missionaries?  Regardless of our faith?  Look deep inside.  We were designed to help our fellow humans.  Been hurt by someone?  We all have.  Not been helped by someone?  We've all felt that.  But we can't let our past define who we are.  We need to learn to forgive and not judge.  We need to see people around us as people - no better than us and certainly no less valued as us.

Take a moment to watch this video.  I posted it at the very beginning of my blog.  This is who I want to be:



And when I get back - I want to be changed.  I want to have His eyes to see the people around me as He sees them.  Everyone is hurting, stressed, sad, missing someone, angry and well - they don't feel loved.  My job always has been - and forever now will be to be a full time missionary....

No matter where I am at.

Won't you join me?  Open your heart to others and give them help - and hope.

We should all be missionaries for the human race - no excuses.