I have been learning a lot about what it means to “meet people where they’re at.”
Freud’s theory about the egocentric child is something that I think can be easy to live in. We live from a singular perspective, and it might seem easy to live one’s whole life that way– from one set of eyes, assuming others see things the same way because that’s all we know firsthand. This way, we might live for ourselves; putting our own fleshly desires first, thinking about our own schedules and lives above other people. Especially in a consumeristic, busy-glorifying society, this is easy to do.
But it’s not helpful.
The more I learn just how true it is simply that everyone is raised so differently, with various exposures, challenges and triumphs, and presentations of ideas, the more I see just how true it is that we’re called to meet people where they at– because the fact that we’re all on different walks is true. 
What I also believe to be earth-shatteringly true, even above that very tangible, physical truth, is that Jesus Christ is God of all, and sacrificed Himself for every single human being, that we all might live freely for Him. If I believe that to be true for me, I must even mores believe it to be true for all those around me.

MATTHEW 9:9-13 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

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We can learn so much from the experiences of and opinions of those around us. These two ladies next to me here are example of people I learn so much from every day; whose journeys with God, whose daily lives devoted to others, interactions with all sorts of different people all make up beautiful women that I get to learn from– and love, firmly believe that the fact that God’s love is real is a life-transforming Truth for them, too.
Firmly believing that it’s a life-transforming Truth for my parents, who I watched selflessly, beautifully, lovingly devote themselves during Easter weekend to my grandparents.
Firmly believing that it’s a life-transforming Truth for Johnny, soon to be close to me again but now many miles away, living a life with all different people and a calling I don’t get to be physically a part of, but I know Jesus’ love for him is more powerful than anything else. Firmly believing Jesus has a plan for him, and for us.
And I don’t believe this on my own. Jesus empowers me to believe it and to walk following Him. When I’m weak in a situation, Jesus is already redeeming it, and is ALWAYS closer than the air I breathe.
This isn’t just true sometimes, or for some people. It’s true all the time, and for all people. That is amazing. That changes the way we live. HE changes the way we live.
We’re all on different walks, in different places in faith, and in different seasons of life. And I’m not called as a Christian to shove doctrine down people’s throat. But I am not going to pity people or treat anyone any less than LOVED, Created in God’s image for a purpose, or that their calling won’t be fulfilled.
Jesus, remind me that we’re all on different journeys to the same God. Remind me that intimacy can’t be talked about, but only lived in. Equip me to see people the way you do, to love others in every season, and to stand firmly in faith in Your promises. Amen. 

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