It’s after one in the morning.
It’s been a crazy travel day.
Lots of time sitting on tarmacs. Lots of delays. One of those days when it feels like you’ve been wearing high heels for 24 hours straight.
And now I’m finally home and before I go to bed, I just want to hang out for a few minutes.
Last week I was reading my Bible and I read this verse.
Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. Luke 14:34-35 (NIV)
Today yesterday I thought about this verse again as I rubbed shoulders with people all day long. People rushing past me in the airport. The driver that so graciously picked me up. The person at the front desk of the hotel. The woman who met me at the studio. The host of the TV show who loved her job so much. New friends I gained through the trip. An unexpected visit with an old friend. Another driver. People sitting next to me on the airplane. The tired mom who seemed to have a mountain of bags to finagle, pushing the stroller with a cranky baby inside.
All day long there were encounters and I saw what Jesus was talking about as I encountered salty people.
You see, salt doesn’t do much in the shaker. Yet when it rubs onto that steak about to hit the grill, or that dish that needs just a little oomph, something special happens.
There were people that stood out yesterday simply because they were salty.
One of the men who drove us to the airport lit up as we talked about missions.
“That’s my dream,” he said. “I think there’s something special about traveling around the world and doing mission work.”
I don’t know his story, except for the few tidbits I learned as he drove. What I do know is that his heart for missions and God rubbed off on us in the 45 minutes it took to get to the airport.
Then there was a new friend. Over lunch she shared about her daughter who has some special needs. It’s hard, and she’s often misunderstood as a parent because others haven’t walked in her shoes. As she talked about her daughter and how hard she’s fighting for her, her faith sprinkled generously in every word she spoke.
Then there was another author. We sat in the green room (it really was green) and suddenly found ourselves in a gut honest conversation about ministry. Her honesty and her openness to God in the hard places were beautiful.
There was that person who helped the tired mom, standing with her, helping her put her bags in the overhead. Offering to do whatever she could to assist her.
I pray that I’m salty.
A salty life isn’t a perfect life, but an honest one.
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It’s when you have faith though you aren’t afraid to say that life can be hard sometimes.
It’s when you share your greatest dreams and they involve making a difference, because Jesus made a difference in you.
It’s when you selflessly see the need of another and do something about it, without expecting anything in return.
It’s when you are in ministry and it’s obvious that it’s hard work, but you do it because it draws people to Him.
All day long I watched people pour out salt as they rubbed shoulders with others.
They stood out because sincerity is salty.
Integrity is salty.
Kindness is salty.
Passion is salty.
Believe me, there were others pouring out some stuff and it was “fit neither for the soil or the manure pile.”
And I’ve been there too, usually when I’ve poured out and forgotten to fill back up and all they get is what’s left at the bottom, hardened and flavorless.
So that’s where I’ll settle for tonight this morning.
More than ever I feel God calling us to be salt and light. I know that sounds churchy, but my prayer is that we — as the church — rub shoulders with people and they walk away having felt something more than the ordinary.
Are you salty?
Are you asking God to fill you back up?
What is one way you can be salt and light to someone today?
Suzie
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Love this Suzie!
I love the practical examples you share. Luke 14:34 is such a foundational verse, but it is sometimes hard to figure out what it looks like wrapped in flesh. Jesus is the perfect example; the people you encountered on your trip offer some more glimpses into salty living. Thanks for the excellent #livefreeThursday prompt, Suzie!
Thanks Suzie for sharing your heart. I’ve also been “poured out and forgotten to fill back up” and less salty than God needed me to be. Being His salt enhances this world with Jesus. May we all pour out and be salty for Jesus, never forgetting to also fill back up with Him. Thanks for all the opportunities, ideas and path you pave for all of us!
Oh I needed this reminder today. I’m taking a bit of time to refill–well to write and then pray over some goals–and I was kind of wishing that I didn’t have to go visit someone tonight at 8:30 pm AFTER I’ve made dinner to take to a couple who just had a baby. But now I’m remembering that this visit is a chance to shine and be salty. A mslm man who’s been coming to our group wants us to meet his wife, and I’m sure she doesn’t know Jesus. Thanks for this. I need to rehaul my attitude. 🙂 Not all days are salty, shiny days, so I need to walk through open doors when God opens them!
I’m definitely in a season where I’m being stretched and learning how to be more flavorful to others in my vicinity, even those I don’t know. One thing I try to do is just smile and say hello. It doesn’t sound like much, but it makes a huge difference!
Suzie, it seems like it doesn’t take much to be salty in this world. Well maybe it takes a little courage and a willingness to stand out in a crowd. I hope I have it and can maintain it as the temptation to just blend in woos me. Thanks for this reminder of who we are called to be. Praying for you Suzie, and be blessed! – Kia
Kia, you are right. It doesn’t take much but we do stand out — one way or the other. I’ve been both salty and “fit for the manure pile” as Jesus so bluntly put it. <3
Oh, this is GOOD STUFF! This line was a kicker, “And I’ve been there too, usually when I’ve poured out and forgotten to fill back up and all they get is what’s left at the bottom, hardened and flavorless.” WOWZA. Love this post, Suzie! Praying for saltiness! #livefreeThursday
Suzie, Thank you for giving examples of what it means to be ‘salt and light’ to the world! I love your analogy of preparing meat, as this follows the holiday that most of us were preparing the grill! Today and going forward, I hope to be more aware of the energy I am rubbing on others.
Gosh, what a constant opportunity we’ve been given to be the salt others need. I pray I go into my weekend with this on my heart a little more deliberately…. and thank you Suzie, for being salt today with your words from Him! Hugs, and blessings.
Thanks, Christine. I was just totally aware these past couple of days how much we literally brush against one another and how we “rub off” on each other, in a good way or a bad way. It was amazing to see how many do exactly that and how beautiful it is, but also what it looks like when someone walks away and what they’ve left behind is hurtful or damaging. Such power, right?
Salty = sincerity / integrity / kindness / passion . . . thanks for this. Sometimes it seems difficult to be “in the world but not of it.” You pointed out that it need not be difficult, it just takes a more “Jesus” thought pattern.
“You see, salt doesn’t do much in the shaker.” This is a good reminder for me to get out there and let Christ’s love rub off on people through me! Not to hoard the blessings I’ve been given. Thanks!
I love how you noticed (all those people) – I think a way to be salty can be simply to notice another and that’s God bringing Himself to them through you. great post and it’s easy enough for me to lose my saltiness – I can tell because I stop noticing (or listening – as I blogged on today.) Thanks, Suzie.
We are called to be salt to the world, but where do we go when we ourselves lost that sense of purpose?
This has been thought-provoking and inspiring. I never thought I needed this until I read it.
Thanks so much, Suzie!
Great reminder! Made me think about the mundane of my day and to pay more attention to it.
Wonderful post, Suzie! Like you, I pray that I’m salty. Thanks so much for sharing such a great word and thanks so much for hosting as well. GOD bless you, beautiful friend! 🙂
This is SO my prayer, Suzie! Love this post. Thank you!
Hugs,
Lori
I am constantly thought about this, regards for puttong up.