Compassion in plain clothes
“When you did it for
these vulnerable ones, you did it for Me.” Jesus Matthew 25:40
I smile thinking about it.
I’m sure I’ll enjoy the
memory for some time. That’s what happens when friends, co-workers and family
gather together and share meaningful moments. We did that Sunday at Covenant
Park as we turned our focus toward a person who embodies qualities we value and
wish to emulate.
I bet you might be thinking
I’m writing about Jesus; but I’m not.
I’m writing about one of His
friends. I’m writing about Mike. Yes, that
Mike: the one with a peculiar
sense of fashion. (Isn’t that a tasteful way to describe a guy who can pull off
wearing 2 colors of Chuck Taylor All Stars with dress pants, a denim shirt and
a wild necktie?)
He’s the one of whom it was
said, “Mike, you are the only one who can
pull off being Mike.” It’s true. The rest of us just look silly when we try
to imitate the real thing. Because Mike is the genuine article. He runs deep,
all the way to the bone.
His deep down quality is
compassion. That means he cares for people like Jesus did. He notices the ones
we often overlook. He gives attention to the ones we are prone to neglect. And
on chilly days, he warms up the workspace of ministry assistants by turning on
their heaters before they arrive. Best of all, he does it whether anyone knows
it or not.
He says he “got that” from
being raised in a family that valued compassion and serving others. If that’s
true, it’s quite a heritage his parents passed along. I wonder if all the other
family members “got it” as well? I don’t know the answer to my question, but I
kind of doubt it; because Mike does it so effortlessly and consistently.
My theory is Mike got it from
Jesus. Because I know Mike loves Jesus. I know this not because I see him read
His book or work in His church or say His words. He does all these things, but I
know Mike loves Jesus because he acts like Jesus.
“If you love Me you will do what I say.”-John 14:15.
Yes. Jesus said it and He
meant it. And apparently Mike got it. Mike doesn’t have to dress “like a
preacher” to act like Jesus. He just wears plain clothes in a very un-plain
way.
He’s compassion in plain
clothes: an example to us all.
I'm old enough to remember an
advertising campaign featuring Michael Jordan with a jingle, “I want to be like Mike.” That’s the way a lot of our Covenant
Family felt today on Mike Watterson Appreciation day.
One of our Covenant Community
Partners wrote: “Mike was the leader who
sought out the room to clean, the sidewalk to sweep, the clothes to fold, the
food to distribute. He was fearless on the streets and yet pure of heart when
it came to the people we serve. Mike never saw color or class or ethnicity—he
only saw humanity.”
Seeing humanity. Serving
others.
Sound like Anyone Else you
know? And this time I’m not talking
about Mike.
It’s a special day when the
obvious is recognized and appreciated.
Mike, thanks for wearing
Compassion in plain clothes. You made it easy for us to see.