And Julius treated Paul

                    kindly

and gave him leave to go

   to his friends

and be cared for.

            Acts 27. 3

(Julius was a Roman centurion

    who was in charge of

transporting prisoners,

         including Paul.

God appoints in our lives

     unlikely people

to help us on our way

    in unexpected places.

God appoints us

    in the lives of

         unlikely people

to care for them

and point them to Christ.

We will be known more

by how we treat others,

the vulnerable,

those unlike us,

strangers and sojourners,

those we live and work

              side by side,

even those against us,

than by what we consider

       "accomplishments.")

O LORD,

When we find ourselves

deep in difficult situations

and among impossible people,

help us to find You there,

love them,

and fulfill Your purposes there.

Bring Your glory to this,

Your grace in the messy places

to love others

     right into Your arms.

Help us to have the courage

and to seek opportunities

   to treat others kindly.

May we not just be nice

but to be kind

and responsive to those

   all around us.

May we be known

       by Your love in us.