God Moments

I had the opportunity to attend a small writing conference that offered several mini-workshops. The first day, my friends who were also attending the conference got to the class early. When I arrived, a woman was sitting where I thought I should have been sitting. Though I hate to admit it, I was a little piqued at my friends for not saving me a seat next to them, and a little disturbed at the women sitting in my chair.

After a few minutes of stewing, I told myself, Well ninny, you have an opportunity to meet someone new—go for it.

Not overly anxious to put myself forward because of fear of being rebuffed, I did anyway. I introduced myself. In turn, she did the same. I began making polite conversation with genuine interest. But to my every question or remark she gave a short and to the point answer. My one-way conversation was falling flat and going no where fast. After deciding it wasn’t my breath or smell turning her off, I determined I would continue to be friendly.

After completing a writing exercise, everyone had to read their story. When this woman read her piece, it exposed the reason for our one-way conversation.

From the time she was little, she had a hard time putting thoughts together except on paper, but there she excelled and wrote elegantly. Her learning disability and how she worked to overcome it, was a testimony to her hard work and tenacity. It was also the reason for her short answers to my questions. It wasn’t me or something I said after all. It had everything to do with her inability to articulate her thoughts. I was glad I had continued to be friendly.

Jesus said it so succinctly, If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:47-48 LB

The Bible tells us to put our feelings—our inhibitions—aside, and emulate our Father. We are to be friendly to the friendless. How else are we to reach the lost? So often, that timid person or the person who is a little different than we are is looking for someone to show genuine interest and love and make them feel wanted.
We need to take advantage of those God moments—those appointed meetings. As Christians, we are to reach out to others known and unknown to us. We are to become friendly and show genuine love toward those we meet daily.

Father, when we have the opportunity to be friendly to those we do not know, help us take advantage of those occasions as a God moment for a new friend or witness of your love and compassion. May we look beyond our own familiar group and become available to those in need and alone. Teach us Your ways, Your love, Your kindness towards the lost and lonely. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.