The Power Of A Smile… It’s Hump Day dear readers and I am already smiling at the Geico commercial about “Mikey and Hump Day”—it is still the top of the commercials out there! The fun of it was getting out of your “daily routine” which can drag you down when you don’t have the answers or the choices you either need or want. Instead, the sight of a Camel walking through a corporate office ignited millions of smiles around the world. For a moment, life wasn’t about making decisions, it was just stepping back, laughing and enjoying the moment with others.

How about you? Still working on directions, answers, confirmations, what choices to take or toss? If we get too embedded in that daily routine the Camel could walk right by us and we would never blink an eye! So, I don’t have Mikey and the Camel, but I do have a wonderful story that was recently shared on CBS evening news. Get out your Kleenex first…really!

“It had been a busy day at a local restaurant with lots of customers coming and going. But at one point, a guy came up to the manager and handed her a card. He told her, “This is for your staff.” And with an emotional catch in his throat, he said, “I just wanted to make sure they knew.” The customer then turned and left as the manager tucked the card into her apron pocket. Later, she opened the card directed to the staff. It thanked them not for their service or the food but for their smiles. The customer explained that he’d made plans to take his life that day. But their gift of simple conversations with simple smiles gave him the gift of hope that he was longing for.”

In Matthew 5:14-16 [MSG] Jesus said: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

That is exactly what those restaurant workers gave that customer. We can search for answers on Google, read the latest how-to-live-life book, and so much more when we are lost in making decisions for our lives. The question we need to ask is “Is God’s will for my life really this complicated?”

No, God really is not complicated. From Genesis to Revelation we have thorough instructions, pages of a ‘how-to-do-it’ in life, along with encouragement, the gift of mercy, forgiveness, unending grace and a love that transcends all other love. It is for us and to share it with those in need. So, I don’t call that complicated at all. Yet, we want that big directional sign from God—but God just wants us to pay attention to Him and ask Him what our best “yes” is amid the choices. Definitely not complicated one bit—we just need to try it!

When I listened to that story on the news, I ran for my Kleenex and I cried—a lot. God was stirring something deep inside me. It took me a moment to realize that God had me watch this story because this is God’s beautiful picture for us. God purposely intersects our lives with those who need hope and then God quietly whispers to us “You have the hope they need, now get out there and give it to them.”

The smiles of the employees to their customers probably never came to mind how powerful they were, especially to one man in need of hope, love and encouragement.

So, while we are here on earth, why not change the blues to a tap-dance? Go ahead, sing off-key; wear your ugly sweater at Christmas, send out fun cards or emails to friends and family—just get rid of the pouting and live in the freedom God wants you to live in. Be the shining light on the hill for those trying to get out of the darkness. Use your lips the way God created them—SMILE!  AMEN.