Do you know anyone who can walk through a yard sale or flea market, pick up what others see as junk, and turn it into something valuable? I know I have. I’ve been with family members who enjoy reselling other people’s junk, and I’ve watched them pick up something and resell it for much more than they paid. It’s not that I don’t notice it; I just see it differently. I call it getting past the stink.

I don’t care whether it’s people or things; we often pass by without noticing their value. With people, it’s their appearance or age that catches our eye. It’s about the context in which we see them. How we interpret their situation will influence how we respond. Sometimes, we struggle to look past their smell. But we must remember that one person’s smell might be another person’s treasure, and just because we don’t notice it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

As a follower of Christ, I am encouraged to love others as myself. Sadly, it is more common for us to love others “like” ourselves than to love those who are different from us. Why is that? Is it because when we see people different from ourselves, all we notice is their differences (stink) and we can’t look beyond them? In a time when many focus on moral purity, we often overlook the people we are called to love. Instead of concentrating on the person, we fixate on their behavior. Someone asked why we expect outsiders to act like insiders when insiders behave like outsiders. 

I am reminded of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). She faced many challenges in her society. First, she was a Samaritan, and second, she had experienced many failed relationships. Jesus saw a person whose heart was searching. He looked beyond the stain of her life and touched her in a way that brought hope and healing. It’s always easy to notice the flaws in a person’s life, but we are called to see past them to the beauty that lies beneath. Maybe today is the day to begin. Think about it.