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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"An Unexpected Blessing"
February 22, 2010
By the time you read this I will be in Mexico on our annual mission trip. As
I was packing, I thought about something that happened a couple of years
ago. On the last day there I took a side trip into Tijuana with a few team
members. We wanted to pick up some souvenirs to bring home.
I told my friends to follow my lead if they wanted to avoid the con men.
I'd been there before and I wasn't a soft touch. We didn't get very far
before we were hustled inside one shop where a smiling man promised us
we could find things for 100% off. I didn't know that was possible. Two
more times we face tremendous pressure from the street vendors who
carried the silver chains on their arms crying, "Hey mister! Have I got a deal
for you."
In the heart of the city the street merchants came in waves like lines on a
hockey team. One after another they pursued us. I was doing well until
someone mentioned birthday. I flinched. My daughter's birthday was the
next week and I hadn't bought her a gift. Like sharks who caught the scent
of blood, one man came in and started selling fast and furious.
Not four, not five, but six necklaces and a bangle bracelet, a silver bracelet
and onyx bracelet were mine if only I could find a twenty dollar bill. Before
I knew what I was doing I had the twenty in my hand and I bought that
jewelry. The truth is that man became my blessing. I was blessed in that
exchange because my daughter loved her birthday present.
The whole adventure made me think of our calling to share the good news
with our friends and family. We're always afraid that if we mention our
faith to a friend they will think we are trying to sell them a bill of goods. So
we give up pretty easily. We don't want to be seen pressuring them.
It's a shame when that happens. The truth is that we have a gift of great
value to share. We've experienced God's grace and mercy in our lives. We
have felt his love and forgiveness. We have been empowered by his
presence in our lives.
I'm not suggesting that we sell someone something they don't want. We
simply need to look for natural opportunities to talk about God and our faith.
The truth is the more we do it, the more likely someone will come up to us
and ask us about it. That is how God works. When someone is hurting, he
puts a thought in their head to seek out someone like you or me. All we
need to do is be willing to share our story.
So let your faith guide you. Be ready to share the gift within you. God will
be lifted up and you will become someone's blessing.
God bless. See you when I get back. Cal
February 22, 2010
By the time you read this I will be in Mexico on our annual mission trip. As
I was packing, I thought about something that happened a couple of years
ago. On the last day there I took a side trip into Tijuana with a few team
members. We wanted to pick up some souvenirs to bring home.
I told my friends to follow my lead if they wanted to avoid the con men.
I'd been there before and I wasn't a soft touch. We didn't get very far
before we were hustled inside one shop where a smiling man promised us
we could find things for 100% off. I didn't know that was possible. Two
more times we face tremendous pressure from the street vendors who
carried the silver chains on their arms crying, "Hey mister! Have I got a deal
for you."
In the heart of the city the street merchants came in waves like lines on a
hockey team. One after another they pursued us. I was doing well until
someone mentioned birthday. I flinched. My daughter's birthday was the
next week and I hadn't bought her a gift. Like sharks who caught the scent
of blood, one man came in and started selling fast and furious.
Not four, not five, but six necklaces and a bangle bracelet, a silver bracelet
and onyx bracelet were mine if only I could find a twenty dollar bill. Before
I knew what I was doing I had the twenty in my hand and I bought that
jewelry. The truth is that man became my blessing. I was blessed in that
exchange because my daughter loved her birthday present.
The whole adventure made me think of our calling to share the good news
with our friends and family. We're always afraid that if we mention our
faith to a friend they will think we are trying to sell them a bill of goods. So
we give up pretty easily. We don't want to be seen pressuring them.
It's a shame when that happens. The truth is that we have a gift of great
value to share. We've experienced God's grace and mercy in our lives. We
have felt his love and forgiveness. We have been empowered by his
presence in our lives.
I'm not suggesting that we sell someone something they don't want. We
simply need to look for natural opportunities to talk about God and our faith.
The truth is the more we do it, the more likely someone will come up to us
and ask us about it. That is how God works. When someone is hurting, he
puts a thought in their head to seek out someone like you or me. All we
need to do is be willing to share our story.
So let your faith guide you. Be ready to share the gift within you. God will
be lifted up and you will become someone's blessing.
God bless. See you when I get back. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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