Carina Francke

Scripture: Ps 102:6, 7:  "I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake and I am like a sparrow alone on the housetop."

These vivid images explain exactly how lonely and deserted people feel; left out, invisible in company, nobody takes interest, they forget about you. Mary Greer's words strike home: "Loneliness is living in a shell."

Jesus easily connected with these kind of people. He invites himself to dinner at the house of Zacchaeus, a detested tax collector - and He, God himself, becomes man to another man. The result? A sinner, profit hunter and blackmailer's life is miraculously saved and   changed by this unconventional hand of friendship - he himself now becomes man to his fellow-man. He gives half of his possessions to the poor and pays back four times the amount he stole from others.

When the Samaritan women came to draw water at a time that nobody else would be at the well, Jesus doesn't see a woman with a past and a reputation, but a lonely woman in dire need - a pelican of the wilderness. He intentionally starts a conversation with her - will she be a man to a fellow-man and draw some water for Him? In the conversation that follows, He becomes man to her and eventually also her Redeemer.

Maybe you feel lost like a pelican in the wilderness, an owl in the desert or a sparrow alone on the housetop. Then listen to Jesus' words, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10). Lift yourself up and run to Him - He is waiting for you and wants to make a home with you.

Or maybe you know someone that feels like this. Become man to that person - crack open his shell of loneliness. How? You might ask. Give yourself and your time. Be interested in who he is, what he likes, invite him for a cup of coffee, go out of your way to see the image of God in the person in front of you. And who knows, you might be the instrument that gives wings to the gifts inside that shell.

Prayer: Father I want to be man to another fellow-man but I know that it's only possible if my priority is to become man to You. Help me please? Amen.