Article by Cameron Spink

Riding on public transport regularly I am privy to what I call the “bubble effect”. This is where everyone is preoccupied with what is happening to them and manifests itself with individuals avoiding eye contact with others and anxious glances out the windows of the bus, train or tram. The bubble effect also happens and major roads when there are hundreds of cars each with occupants occupied only with their own interests and time schedule.

It has been called other things but, regardless of its name, it reflects the innate selfishness that exists in every human at birth. This behaviour is dangerous and at its most extreme it causes people to become violent passengers and screaming lunatics behind the wheel. These aren't the only places the bubble effect rears its ugly head just the most pertinent. You see it also when one skips places in the line; when someone does something underhanded at work; when you don't tell Centrelink about that one payment that was off the books.

It even happens within the church. The company you share after the service is reflective of those you are comfortable with. The way you skirt past the worship leader or avoid committing to anything that may make your life too cluttered, such as bible study.

The message these acts convey is loud and clear. My bubble, my world is more important than yours and should take precedent. Any time our bubbles come into contact it should be for my benefit. As mentioned before this belief has its roots in the sins of the first human and is indulged by advertising agencies to bombard us with the message: What can my product do for you!

It may sound like I am merely an observer and do not participate in these activities but I tell you that I am as big an offender as the next person. And I justify it to myself giving myself reasons for my actions.

The problem with this lifestyle is that one cannot properly love others whilst within their bubble. It was Jesus' second great commandment to love others as ourselves but this is not possible while we continue to dwell upon our own struggles and our own lives.

The solution is simple yet so difficult to execute. We must pop the bubble. Only then can we interact with others in the way God intended. By placing aside our interests we finally have time for what is going on in the lives of others. Even in secular society this is a trait that is exemplified as extreme acts, such as helping strangers, make headline news.

But how do we pop the bubble? This is something that is very difficult to do on our own. Our default position is to place value on our travels and leave everyone by the wayside. To pop the bubble we must renew our minds as Paul suggests. This can only occur by giving God every part of our life. As the Christian cliche goes we must “hand the reins over to God and get in the back seat”. It is good indication that you have given everything to God if the way you interact with others is reflective of God's love.

This trait is exemplified in the Bible. In the story of the ten leprous men only one returns to Jesus to thank Him and it is credited to him as faith. The actions of the four men who lowered the paralyzed man through the roof in Mark 2 also reflect a compassion that is above and beyond the expectancy and this is what most delights Jesus. It is clear that the ability to see beyond the trials of oneself is an example we should follow. For if we do not develop a desire to care about others it is impossible for God to use us as His instruments.

It is my challenge to you to pop your own bubble. By doing so you have a chance to live the life God wants you to live and open a world of possibilities to impact others.