Intentional, or not?

Life takes courage, period. Too many times I have been around people in life where I pass them by either at work, in the community or even at church and we exchange the cordial "what's up" or even "how have you been?" I'm in a different place in my life now with Christ taking hold so much that it kills me to hear those passive comments going on around me. I now am a man of intentionality. My reason behind this posting dwells back to where I got the chance to really engage with a fellow brother in Christ, John. He's my absolute champion in my faith in Jesus and where I have developed a life in following our Lord. He is also my real accountability partner in life, no matter when I fall or have a victory in daily activity. John is courageous in his intentionality with me. He steps outside of his comfort to give me his all when I need it. In time, I have learned to to the same so much that I feel so changed by the way I interact with others now. No longer I say the typical 'what's up' or 'how are you' without really caring behind the comment when asking someone else. God has changed me and my outlook on interacting with people. I want to know people and hear from them because that's what Christ did when He was here. He knew people. It took courage to be intentional while Christ got to know others. It was messy. LIFE IS MESSY. However, we humans want to be heard in our struggles and victories of life. My challenge to those reading this blog post is not to see where I have come from but to see the key point of being intentional will come from a courage Christ will give you. I don't know how it will happen for other people because that's in God's plans, not mine or yours. I do champion you to take that next step though to really know people around you. Be intentional. Have that courage Christ is calling all of us to have to really understand people we are around. Christ was the perfect and best example we could have in how He reached the least of our existence to LOVE them and show them He cared about them. Therefore, when you are crossing paths with someone you do or don't know, how intentional will you be in your conversation?