On Thursday I was running some errands, and as I approached a red light where I was going to turn left, I noticed a lady standing on the median with a cardboard sign, asking for money. My natural response is always to avoid eye contact and get in the farthest lane possible, so that’s exactly what I did. I got into the farther left turn lane, looked straight ahead, and quickly accelerated when the light turned green. As I passed her, a feeling of conviction came over me…a conviction that I should have stopped. I drove away thinking: I should have stopped, but it’s too late now. Then, I totally could have offered to buy her some lunch…I have a really open afternoon too…but I’m already getting on the highway now.
But the conviction got stronger, and instead of making excuses for myself, I started asking for forgiveness. I’m sorry God, I know I should have done something, help me to next time. But as the words came out of my mouth, I felt so frustrated with myself. Frustrated because I’m tired of saying sorry. I’m tired of asking God to open opportunities and then ignoring them when He sends them. I’m all talk, and I hate that. Repentance in Greek translates to “a change of mind.” If I am stuck in a perpetual state of saying sorry, something is wrong. My repentance isn’t sincere—my mind isn’t changing. So on Thursday as I drove away from the lady with the cardboard sign, I realized that I need to stop saying sorry, and start changing my mind, beginning with turning around and asking this woman out to lunch. I am sharing this because I want to encourage you to not avoid eye contact, and to not get into the farthest lane like I do. Don’t dismiss His call with excuses and don’t stay in a state of saying sorry. Please stop, and if you already passed the opportunity He presented, turn around. Thursday really opened my eyes to the fact that I want to be evidence of His pursuit to a world in need. Not because I have much to offer, but because I have been offered much. Not because I’m incredibly loving but because I have been incredibly loved. Not because I have the capacity to care but because I have been cared for in a capacity I can’t even fully grasp. I want to be that evidence because when I was the lady on the median with a crumpled cardboard sign, He didn’t just get back on the highway, He MADE a highway so He could come take me out to lunch. That is the reckless, committed, persistent, pursuit I have experienced, and I want to be credible evidence of that.
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