Why I wave to people and why you should too (maybe)

I have a friend named Zack who I lovingly call Zackrack. During college Zackcrack was a delightful friend in my life and, to this day, still makes me smile whenever we get a chance to catch up. When I think about Zackrack I think about how many pairs of shoes he had, his funny bmx bike that didn't have breaks (maybe the reason he went through so many shoes), the giant inflatable yellow M&M character that was always outside of his bedroom door, and, most of all, his habit of waving and saying hi to tottally random people he didn't know ALL OF THE TIME .

Senario: Zackrack and I would be driving down the street in his station wagon and, at a light, a mother would be crossing the street pushing her young son in a baby stroller. Without thinking twice, Zackrack would make eyecontact with her, wave his hand irradically, and say "HI!!". His actions ALWAYS invoked the same responses from his victems and from me. See, Zackrack said his hello's in such a friendly way that everyone he waved to thought that maybe they knew him from somewhere. Their response, 99% of the time was a look of "do i know you?" and, upon realizing that they didn't, they *usually* waved back. MY response, almost every single time, was always me asking Zackrak: "Do you know them?" to which Zackrack would turn to me with a big goofy smile, almost laughing, and relpy "Nope!". These interations happened on a daily basis.

So, naturally, after spending tons of time chillin with Zackrack in Savannah I decided to start waving to people whenever he did, double the flavor, double the fun, right? We'd laugh and enjoy interacting with people together. Sometimes we'd even meet a new friend doing it. Rarley did we ever have someone react negativly to our greetings and so, what was habit for Zackrack became somewhat of a habit for me.

Little did I realize how much of an impact just waving at someone or saying hi to a strange could have until I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Without Zackrack to be my waving partner in crime I had to hold up the "friendly stranger repretoier" on my own... not like it was hard to wave to people. I don't even think about it really, when someone makes eyecontact with me I wave at them. The way I see it is waving and saying hello to someone you, say, pass on the street or is next to you at a stop light, is a super simple and easy way to reach out to people, spread welcoming in your community, and maybe just make someone smile.

For example: One day I was driving down the street and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the woman in the car next to me was looking in my direction. Without hesitating I looked over at here, smiled big, and waved hello. We then continued on our ways but soon came to a stop light. She rolled down her window at the light and motioned for me to do the same. Not knowing what to expect, I rolled down my window, smiled, and said "hey!". She proceded to tell me that I made her day. "Not one person has been nice to me today and I was really starting to feel discouraged. You made me feel so much better just by waving and smiling. Thanks for everything!"

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I think I replied with something along the lines of "of course, well take care and Godbless". To tell you the truth I honestly don't remember WHAT I said because she caught me soo offguard. I had no idea that my goofy little wave actually might mean something to the people that I wave too. How profound and how simple at the same time. What an basic way to spread some love, don't you think?

Well to tie this up really quick I just wanted to explain the "why you should too (maybe)" part of my title. See I was talking with someone about the whole waving-hello-to-people thing and they said to me "I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing something like that". I thought about that for a while after our conversation and then came to a realization: Everybody in the world is called to the Lord BUT that doesn't mean that everybody's calling is the same. What God puts on my heart and gives me the natural ability to do, for example be outgoing and engage strangers in a greeting, may not be even close to what he puts on my neighbor's heart and gives THEM the natural ability to do. Just because waving to people is so easy for me doesn't mean that it is easy for everybody and, because of our differnces in personality, ability, and calling, I should never expect another believer to just naturally be able to or even want to minister to people the same way that I do. In realizing this I have to make sure that when I'm presenting what has "worked" in my life when it comes to my relationship with God, my faith, and my callings/ministeries I present it in a way that is attractive to others but not overwhelming. I don't expect YOU to decide that you are going to wave to everyone as part of practicing everyday kindness just the same as I would like for some people to not expect ME to "evangalize" the same way that they do. It's just something we need to think about. Jesus had 12 deciples for a reason. He was able to bring out the best in each one of them so that they could work together in their beautiful differences.

So remember, when you read in a book about someone and their way(s) of pleasing the Lord in their lives or you hear someone tell you through a sermon, conference, or just conversation what has worked with them in their ministeris... remember that just because it has worked for them doesn't mean that you HAVE to be just like them. You can learn from what they tell you, maybe even adopt the same actions, but, if it's not your calling then it's not your calling. No worries, mate.
Either way I'll wave to you on the street:)

We could be closer than you know.