Sign

This morning, on my walk, I saw deer sign on our driveway. You know, deer tracks and deer scat... Unmistakable signs that deer were in our driveway last night! This isn't a common experience, although deer and elk are occasionally in town. I didn't get a photo, but I'm sure you can imagine the scene.

I told my kids about the deer signs. They were excited to imagine deer in our driveway! They were interested in how I knew the tracks and scat were from a mule deer. We talked about what animals were native to the area and about how unlikely it would be for a whitetail deer to be here. We discussed my experience with scat across hiking trails and woods.


They weren't convinced. So I showed them this picture. I asked them who was in the picture. Of course, they knew, having modeled for the photo just a day ago. In our discussion of how they knew who was who in the photo, they picked up on what I meant by "signs." Their size, their posture, the way they stand, sit, or kneel... all of these tell those who know them who they are. Just like I knew the signs in our driveway were from mule deer. Eventually, they accepted that I knew what I was talking about.

I was thinking about this experience later in the day, and I realized that Christians should leave signs. There should be clear and convincing evidence of who we are in Jesus Christ. Everywhere we go. In everything we do. Every single day we should be saying and doing things which mark us as Christ's followers.

What marks us as Christians?

Love. Our supporting love of those around us, including those who are different from us, names us as Jesus' followers (John 13:34). Do we welcome others to our holiday table? Do we provide food for strangers? Do we support our missionaries with prayer? Do we support a child in poverty through Compassion International (or some similar ministry)? Do we work at the local food bank? There are a thousand ways to love one another, and it should show!

Service. Jesus says we are to serve others (Galatians 5:13). Do we? Do we volunteer to finish the sweeping, put away the tables, or take out the trash? Do we, without grumbling, pick up the last couple of dishes and put them away? Do we fetch something for our beloved, without grouching about how many times they've left something behind? (I'm not suggesting that we should enable those around us to be lazy! Just asking if we are serving others, as Jesus did.) Do we, as the church, provide rides, meals, and material goods to those in need? Service doesn't have to be huge. Serving those near us in Jesus' name is the goal.

Kindness. One of the fruits of the spirit is kindness. Kindness seems rare these days, especially when we're talking about any kind of politics or political leanings. On both sides of the spectrum, I see vitriolic comments and name-calling. This meanness is not a sign of Christianity, as I know it. The Bible says that we are to be known by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God (2 Corinthians 6). So, in everything we do, we should be kind. We can speak the truth in kindness. We can reproach a loved one about a recurring sin in kindness.

I know there are other signs that mark us as Christians. Let's think about them. Let's actively pursue them! Let's make our mark on the world.