Policies are a good thing to have. But only if you are going to stick by them. Last week, a woman pulled into our parking lot and demanded cash. She said she needed it to pay for tolls to get somewhere. I offered her directions on a non-toll road. Then she demanded cash for food. I offered her anything out of our food pantry she wanted, but explained that we had a no cash policy. Then, she wanted cash for gas. I offered to go with her to gas station and purchase it with my credit card. She left the parking lot, enraged that that I would not help her.
I am fairly sure that that woman did not exactly leave with a picture of Christ in her mind, and I did not manage to share the Gospel with her. Was this my failed attempt?
Not exactly an upbeat posting for my first one out there, but, 3 1/2 years of working at a church has taught me that something funny always comes along. VBS week is coming, if there is not a funny story there, it's time to pack up.
You're right about funny stories with VBS. Kids DO say the darnedest things!
ReplyDeleteAnd for your cash craving friend, if you were trying to reason with her and speaking to her in a Christ-like manner, you did exactly what you needed to. I don't think she would've been open to you sharing the Gospel. Seems like she wanted cash or... just someone to yell at. It's like someone praying- 'yelling' to God- 'TELL ME WHAT TO DO?!' but, when opportunities surface, they keep waiting for the answer they want. Make sense?
You were there. You talked to her. You offered. Maybe she'll return later, remembering how you were kind and open. You never know...
Sounds a lot like the Rich Fool parable for this Sunday, Abby. Two brothers were fighting over splitting up their inheritance. There were all sorts of Jewish laws on how much each one gets according to their birth rite and such... so they ask Jesus to interpret the laws and help them.
ReplyDeleteAnd he tells them about a man who focused completely upon himself and stored up all his grain in new barns and then died.
Now if I was those two brothers, I'd be a little flabbergasted! What the heck does that have to do with anything??
Jesus would say "everything." You were willing to meet this woman's needs. You offered her all the help she could need, but she wasn't sharing her real source of need with you. You were being a neighbor to her, but (like Jesus often does) answering her requests with an unexpected offer.