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Serving Where You Are
Brad Thompson
March 9, 2014
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Serving Where You Are
Several years ago, our family went to New York City as a part of Justin's high school graduation present. We spent a day there, visiting the holes in the ground that had once been the twin towers, going to a Broadway show, watching the Yankees in old Yankee Stadium - the things you're supposed to do when you go there.
But my best memory of that day is walking the streets of that crazy city, a couple of steps behind Hali Thompson. If you know Hali, you know that she wants to give you a hug, she speaks to everyone, and has never met a stranger. If you've ever been to NYC, you know that they all walk as if they're 10 minutes late to their destination. So how do you think these people responded when Hali, walking straight toward them, didn't adjust her path? Instead, she would stick out her hand and say, "Hi, my name's Hali." I'd have to say that the most frequent reaction was frustration with mild disgust to this "obstacle" in their path. They had no idea what they were missing.
New Yorkers, right?
I can be a little self-righteous about that until I get honest with the way I live most days - too busy to pay attention to the "opportunities" that are "in my way" because I have things to do, people to see, and places to be.
This morning, I want us to be challenged with the idea that God has placed us where we are because there are opportunities to bring Him glory in those places. Do we recognize them as opportunities, or do we see them as obstacles in the way of where we are going?