Jesus Calls Them Neighbors; Jonah 4

John and I meet for coffee every couple of weeks. We don't really plan it; it just happens. John's in his 80s, retired, and has amazing stories. He also puts up with a lot of my questions (I'm still not sure why). John is one of the kindest men I know. There's something about him that draws people in. While we sit and talk, other patrons and bookstore employees stop by our table to visit with him. He knows them by name, asks about their families, and always has a smile. As I worked on my sermon from Jonah this week, I found myself thinking about John. You see, John is from Nineveh. Well... Nineveh adjacent, anyway. John grew up in Iran. In a world that encourages us to sort people into categories—us and them, friend and enemy, insider and outsider—I've found it increasingly important to sit across the table from people whose stories are different from my own. It's hard to keep thinking of people as "those people" once someone from "those people" becomes your friend. My conversations with John have given me a perspective I never would have gained from reading headlines or scrolling social media. He's reminded me that history, politics, and conflict are real—but so are kindness, hospitality, faith, and friendship. Jonah struggled to see the people of Nineveh the way God saw them. I wonder, who might help us see our own "Ninevites" differently?

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