Can I get a Gallon of Gas?

"I need some gas."

It was already a long, humid morning. Between my workout and a three-mile walk, I was tired and hot. Every weekend, I take my wife's car to fill it up and get it washed. I was standing at the pump, watching the numbers whiz by, when a guy stepped around the pump and asked, "I need some gas. Can you pump me a gallon?"

I looked at him, and I judged him. Quickly. His pants rode low. His shirt was in disarray. His hair was mussed up. I had him figured out in about two seconds.

I took a breath and said, "Sure, I can pump you a gallon."

I walked around to his car and started pumping. While the gas flowed, I asked him some questions. His name was Carl (name changed). He moved to Tampa earlier this year. He works for a moving company, and he was on his way to a job. He asked where I worked, and we talked about church for a few minutes. Somewhere in that conversation, one gallon became two. We shook hands. He drove off, and so did I.

Good job, Chris...right?

I didn't think so.

The Plan I Didn't Use

Every now and then, someone asks me, "Do you give to those people on the side of the road with the cardboard signs?"

I actually have a strategy for that. I keep some cash in my console and a few copies of the New Testament. When I pull up to someone, I pray and ask God whether I should give. If the answer is yes, I tuck the cash inside the book and hand them both. It works for me.

But Carl didn't come with a cardboard sign. He came around the side of a gas pump on a Saturday morning when I was hot, tired and not expecting anybody. I had a plan for the planned moments. I didn't have one for this.

Later that day, I kept turning it over:

• Why did I judge him?

• If he had asked me for $7.54 in cash, would I have been as hesitant?

• Did my view of him change after I asked him questions?

• When a request like this is unplanned, do I slow down and walk through the decision?

• How can I do better next time?

Questions Change the Picture

A good question yields a good answer. A great question yields a great answer and more questions.

Here's what struck me. The moment I started asking Carl questions, he stopped being "that guy" and became Carl. A guy new to Tampa. A guy with a job. A guy on his way to work. My questions didn't change him. They changed me.

That's the reminder I needed: value all people. When I'm with people who share my values, culture and beliefs, it's easy to put them in the "good person" zone. When someone is different, I can't discount them. Every person carries value because their Creator made them in His image (Genesis 1:27).

Jesus modeled this when He walked the earth. He ate with the "sinners" (Mark 2:15–17). These weren't the cool kids. These were the people society had written off as not worth much. Jesus sat at their table anyway.

So how do we value others in a practical, loving way?

Read the Moment

Every situation is different. Let me be clear: if you sense danger or aberrant behavior, get yourself and your loved ones to a safe place. Law enforcement and security do great work in this area. In those moments, trust your common sense and make the wise call.

For most other interactions, it comes down to a few foundational principles:

1. Read the situation. What's going on in totality?

2. Read the person. What are they showing you?

3. Read the request. What are they actually asking for?

4. Treat them as you'd want to be treated. What would you want someone to do for you right now?

5. Listen to the Holy Spirit. What is He telling you to do?

How Much Are You Ready to Show?

Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Not your neighbor who looks like you. Not your neighbor who has it together. Your neighbor.

So here's my question for you this week: What value do you put on the next person who interrupts your morning? And how much love are you ready to show?