Rich Dixon reminds us of process.

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During our conversation about trajectories and interruptions, Becky reminded us of “300 TOUCHES.”

300 TOUCHES is the notion that most folks require multiple interactions before they finally drop their defenses, before they are willing to truly listen, before they open their hearts. Nothing special about the number 300 (unless you’re talking about words-per-day). It’s a simple reminder – that final “touch” most likely followed numerous conversations, acts of kindness or sacrifice, and other exchanges that may have gone unnoticed… by everyone except Jesus.

We tend to celebrate that last touch, the one that tipped the balance. But from Jesus’ perspective, I suspect touch #64 carries as much significance as touch #300.

And touch #123, the guy who stopped and took the time, who didn’t mind the interruption – that guy mattered. A lot.

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If we could look back at all those touches, we probably wouldn’t observe a straight line or beautiful arc. Instead, we’d witness a winding, discombobulated-looking path marked with Jesus’ footprints. Perhaps, from an eternal perspective, we’d discern how Jesus used each touch to shape and refine the path. And how the path and each of its steps was somehow part of the big-picture kingdom plan.

But – no one at any point on the path has Jesus’ perspective. None of us comprehends the eternal impact of any individual interaction.

300 TOUCHES reminds us we can’t understand another person’s journey. Or how that journey fits into kingdom plans. We can’t know, at any moment, our eternal role.

Maybe it’s part of why Jesus advised us not to judge. Perhaps he was reminding us that our judgments, regardless of how wise or well-intentioned, are always based on a limited snapshot.

What if 300 TOUCHES reminds us to love the neighbor in front of us right now, even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient, because our choice has eternal consequences?