Have you ever had an experience where you met someone and they totally snubbed or demeaned you? Maybe you were dressed a certain way, or they simply didn’t know you. But then, someone vouches for you or hears about your credentials, talent, and education. Whatever it is, it causes their eyes to suddenly brighten in understanding that, hey! This is someone important!

One of the things I love doing is being low-key. I will walk into a room with flats on, my natural hair in a ponytail and clothes that are cute but not too fly. I’ll do that and interact but mostly observe the room. I don’t want people to suddenly put on a show for me if they know I’ve had some accomplishments or that I’m close to certain people. I want to see the real. I want to see the authentic them.

The city I live in is notorious for cliques and putting on a show. There are some great things about Cleveland, but getting support can be difficult if you’re not known. Even if they really like you and what you’re about. If you’re not seen as being in “the in crowd,” they will pretend they don’t even recognize you. Walk right past you in some cases.

When I first encountered this type of behavior, I was shocked. Are we still in middle school? I wondered. But being a spiritual person I understand we wrestle against principalities, which are spiritual demonic entities. These people are in darkness.

People are often easily influenced by culture and what is surface. The problem with that way of functioning is that culture is constantly changing, so what is “in” one day can be “out” the next.

When you live your life based on being “in,” you can be thrown out just as fast.  

One of the things I like about Christ is how He moved. He was Creator of all, yet so humble. He wasn’t cute by any means, as the Bible says He had no “form or comeliness” (Isaiah 53:2). Plus He was poor, so no chics were checking for him!

But when He started doing His thing and walking in purpose, the people flocked, and everybody wanted to be on His team. But by then, He already knew who His riders were. And even the one who would betray Him.

I’m grateful to have seen who my riders are and learned that not everyone is genuine. I admit I’ve taken this characteristic for granted by being spoiled by it from my community and the sisterhood I’ve had since college. But not everyone has that luxury or that type of unconditional love and acceptance. People only mirror the behavior that they receive. I’ve received love, so all I can do is love. Now, if you hurt me, I may have to work through that hurt before I can love you, but eventually, I usually get there. Even if it’s from a distance.

The biggest goal for me, though, is seeing the folks who look unassuming, like Christ. The ones who are “low-key.” The ones who aren’t popular to man, but are popular to God. Those are the ones I want on my team because I know they are winning in the most important area, which is spiritually. Whenever we win spiritually, we are bound to win naturally.

Still, it can hurt when others snub, or ignore, or demote us. That’s when I’m reminded of Yeshua speaking to the woman at the well.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” -John 4:10

In this passage, Christ speaks to a woman who was considered someone beneath him. First and foremost, she was a woman. Secondly, she was a Samaritan (whom the Jews didn’t associate with). On top of that, she was “loose.” Meaning she was out here. The Bible says she had five husbands and was with a man she wasn’t currently even married to. It was unheard of that the Lord, or any upright, respectable Jewish man, would be interacting with her. But Christ was never about who was popular to society. It was about who was popular to Him.

Initially, the woman doesn’t know who she’s speaking with. She is speaking with the Man who can turn water into wine. Who can multiply five fish and two loaves of bread to feed thousands. Who can raise the dead. As a result of this unawareness of whose presence she’s in, she isn’t capitalizing on her moment in time with the Divine.

That’s what I think happens when people try to mistreat us. The Divine is in us, and by mistreating us, they are mistreating Him. Not only do they miss their blessing by doing this, but they have to reap from the mistreatment. 

If they only knew…

So my prayer is to know. 

Lord, help me to know Yours who come to me. Help me to see people as You see them, not as popular culture sees them, so I don’t miss my blessing. 

SHALOM

P.S, Please agree with me in special thoughts/intentions/prayers for Israel.

In other news…Did you know that I just dropped my debut novel When Love Wins? You can check out more here! This time around there is an audiobook in addition to the eBook and paperback versions. Make sure you are subscribed to my email list to catch special offers, discounts, insider information, and more!

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And, lastly, if you have read “Stories for the (Urban) Soul, please put up an Amazon review here. I was SUPER encouraged and blessed when a new reader put up her review for my 2nd book which you can view here :).

As always, thank you for your support!