Bringing Jesus to the Marketplace

In a time when the familiar "God bless you" in response to a sneeze has been reduced to "bless you," for fear of public expression of the "G" word, how do we bring Jesus to the marketplace without being preceived as a "holy roller" or "Jesus Freak"? The old proverb, "Actions speak louder than words", might be the answer. If we look at others with respect, suspending judgement based on outward appearances, and try to see the goodness within, for we all possess that inner gem, then it might be easier to treat all people with the kindness and compassion we would enjoy being shown to us. We then would be living the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself", and would not have to "preach" it. Jesus certainly saw the good in others, "he eats with sinners and drinks with them," the people observed. We can be living examples of Jesus, thus making him known and loved through us. A smile, a word of recognition and encouragement, taking time to listen to another's stories, patiently answering the questions of an inquisitive child or co-worker, subtley "changing the thermostat" when conversation becomes gossip or heats up into the vulgar or indecent, all these ways are simple, natural ways of inserting Jesus into our everyday contacts with others and of bringing him to our increasingly secular market place. If we think about this, we can find even more ways. Let's bring this proposition to our prayer and actions today.
Bro. Rene