Has your life ever been touched by a zone dweller? Are you thinking you’ve never met a zone dweller? I’ll bet you have. They’re everywhere. You’ll find them in the most unexpected places.

My husband and I had the privilege of delivering blankets to the homeless in Philadelphia a few years ago. We met so many lovely people. One man has remained fixed in our minds. He was articulate and had an outgoing and open personality. We learned he was a faith-filled Christian. This man exuded joy, a joy we didn’t expect to find in the dank, underground subway domains of the homeless. This joy drew us to him, and we talked with him at length. For the sake of this story, I’ll call him Charlie.

A drastic change in circumstance took Charlie from a home and steady employment to the unforgiving streets of the inner city. Charlie never saw it coming, never thought it possible. Homelessness was someone else’s lot in life, someone who hadn’t dreamed big, planned carefully or worked hard. But there was no bitterness in Charlie. He wasn’t complaining. In fact, he could barely contain his excitement.

“I have a vibrant ministry down here,” he explained. “I’m giving hope to the hopeless. I’m leading precious souls to our Lord Jesus. It’s not what I would have chosen, but God is using me in a powerful way.”

How amazing is that? How amazing is grace that it can enable a man who has lost it all, a man who has no place to lay his head, to count it all joy for the glory of the Lord? Undoubtedly, Charlie was a zone dweller.

Another recent encounter was in a hospital waiting room. I will admit with shame my initial assessment of her. I remember thinking, “A bona fide bag lady.” She was quite unkempt, although clean. She was missing most of her teeth, and she was hard to understand. Yet, the longer I listened to this dear soul, the more I was drawn to her. I will call her Gail.

Gail’s conversation was clearly others-focused. She was reaching out to everyone who entered the room with encouragement and a kind word. I could no longer keep my distance. I walked across the waiting room floor and sat in the chair next to Gail. She gazed at me with warm eyes. I returned her gaze in an attempt to look deep into her soul. We talked as long as our waiting time allowed, and I was immeasurably blessed. Gail said many beautiful, profound things, but what remained in my heart is this: “I have learned through life that there is much suffering, so many hurting people. I have come to believe that if I am able to stand upright, take a step unassisted, and pull breath into my lungs, then I am surely blessed. God is always, always good.”

At that moment the plea of my heart was Lord, help me to grow to have this dear woman’s perspective. Clearly, her focus on God’s goodness enabled the injustice of life to fade.

I could not keep my arms from wrapping around her. What a blessing.

Those who are in The Zone, those who know genuine joy, often bear a peaceful countenance that belies their circumstances. They tend to be patient, forgiving people who have servants’ hearts. Their words are encouraging and edifying, and they look for the good in everything and everyone. I find that they usually don’t take themselves too seriously because they have learned to accept their personal weaknesses as opportunities to grow in God’s strength. In short, they tend to be the kind of people we all want to be around.

Of course, zone dwellers are ordinary folks who, because of time spent with the Lord, have begun to grow in likeness to His image. They have begun to reflect His character as they meditate on Who He is and who they are in Him. His amazing grace through the power of the Holy Spirit allows this transformation. And The Zone is simply my silly term for that place of fellowship with Jesus where the cares of this world begin to fade in the light of His glory. Oh, it’s all so sweet.

Think it’s not real? When pondering whether I really needed to write so extensively on The Zone, I decided that the topic is too important to skim over. There are Biblical and historical zone dwellers, amazing martyrs of history, and others whom I’ve known personally. The evidence demonstrates the reality of this higher plane of living that transcends worldly woes.

Whatever name you assign this higher place, believe me, you want to go there.

Begin by trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Give Him your all. Seek Him through His written Word and prayer. Worship and fellowship with other believers who will help you keep your focus heavenward.

Email me. I’d love to shepherd you to and through the most important step of faith you’ll ever take.

Joy in Jesus,

Jacquee