Sparrows and Androids

“Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” —Matthew 10:30

You push your cart up to the conveyor belt and unload your items.

She scans your food.

You stop texting.

You swipe your plastic card.

You grab your stuff.

“Thank you. Have a nice day.”

“Yes, you too, thank you.”

Done.

Rewind. Somewhere between the cell phone, the plastic card, and the employee in the green apron, between the cash register, the conveyor belt, and the profusion of polyethylene bags, there is a human. She has a name. 

Much like the machines surrounding her, she has a capitalistic purpose: assist you with an efficient, accurate, and cordial checkout at the grocery store. Make you happy. Feed your ego. She was trained to do what the machines were designed to do. 

But she was not designed like the machines. She was formed in the womb, threaded together like a masterful quilt, mathematically perfect, scientifically phenomenal, and artfully magnificent—not by humans but by God—and guess what? God didn’t design her to be your ego-satisfying button presser. 

According to Jesus, the woman at the register is of limitless value, interesting, and important . . . even mysterious. She was carefully formed by God as a human being before she became your corporate android at the checkout counter. She has deep concerns, hopes, dreams, feelings. 

Don’t treat people like machines. Put your phone down and ask them how they’re doing. Maybe even address them by the name on their name tag. Ask them about their shift. Make a joke. Make eye contact. Be grateful for the person giving you one of your favorite things . . . food. Smile. 

Jesus said that the very hairs on our heads are numbered and that we have more value than all the sparrows in the field. Each encounter with a person is a gift, and when we treat people like they are valuable, we are living like Jesus lived. We are living in a different kind of kingdom—one founded on love and faith instead of determination to please the self.