Behind The Scenes

This song Behind The Scenes by Francesca Battistelli makes me think of two questions, if we knew fully what everyone goes through, know and understand every detail and nothing to be left out, and to feel the pain of what it's like for someone else, would we treat them the same way that we do now? What if we knew, would we be more willing to pick up our crosses follow Jesus and show those around us his love? or would we freak out too soon and unknowingly add to their pain when we choose to walk away?

what a tragedy that would be! Jesus loves them soo much, and we should show them that. Is it way too much to ask of you to make someone feel like they're not just another face in a crowd? Make them feel like they matter, they're loved, they have someone who, for once, actually CARES? Like you're not all talk, you're actions and words match up?

I know this idea freaks people out. Why? well, have you looked at the world yet? When it comes to 'love', we're expected to love those who look like they deserve it... not that nerd at lunch, not that shy kid, not the girl in the corner with her head down, not that person who is sitting alone, not that gir or that boy. But, instead we're to love those who "deserve" love. Not true at all.

What does the Bible have to say about this topic?

The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. (NRSV, Mark 12:31)

You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NLT, Matthew 5:43-48)

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)

We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (NRSV, 1 John 4:19-21)

I don't know how much the Bible talks about love, but you should get the point. So, here's the song by Francesca Battistelli;



When I googled the lyrics for this, I thought of one person. (out of respect, no names will be given.) This one person, rides my bus and sits infront of me. He told me something and I'll never forget what he said. He said he tried to kill himself, and my jaw dropped. Why? because I never would have suspected he would be one to do that or attempt to do that.

People put up a dang good front and pull off the "I'm ok" attitude. Have you ever thought that the people you've walked by today, could go home, and on their way, they get into a reck and die? or even worse, go home and committ suicide? What if you see it on the news the next day? Will you regret not taking time out of your day to make an eternal difference in their life? Will you share Jesus with them?

Because as the song states, Even though I've got the lines rehearsed
A picture only paints a thousand words
Things aren't always what they seem
You're only seeing part of me
There's more than you could ever know
Behind the scenes
I'm incomplete and I'm undone
But I suppose like everyone
There's so much more that's going on
Behind the scenes

please, don't wait to change the way you treat people. treat them the way Jesus would. Treat them as you wish to be treated.

Here's a challenge for you to do for the rest of your life, and yes, I'm aware not everyone will take it. I challenge you to go that one extra mile for someone, anyone. It doesn't matter who... everyone needs to feel like they matter and are loved for who they are. Your challenge? go that one extra mile for 3 people every week til you die. I know it's a crazy challenge, but it's possible.

are you ready? I am! Let's do this.

- Katelyn