Yesterday, while running around at work, I heard someone call out the word “short” in my direction. When that word is aimed at me, people are referring to either my hair or my stature (or possibly my attention span!).
As I walked toward the people throwing “short” out there, it became obvious that they were referring to my height. These two women were also vertically challenged. We began a conversation about finding clothes that fit us properly, given our less-than-lengthy bodies.
But the conversation quickly shifted and within minutes these women, moments before strangers to me, were opening up and sharing their hearts and lives with me. What I didn’t know was that they didn’t know each other either before they entered the store. By the end we were exchanging numbers and books (one of them was also an author).
One of the women said that before she’d walked in she’d been having a really rough morning. This was just what the doctor had ordered. The other woman was just newly married and had just moved to Denver and was looking for people to connect with. The meet up was completely unexpected for all of us. Yet met a need for each of us.
That’s what God does. He intertwines lives and paths to cross and connect at just the right place to meet just the right need. He took three “random” women and brought them to the exact same place at the exact same time to encourage each other at that moment along this road of life. It may have been a one time thing. It may become an ongoing relationship. But either way, an impact was made on each of us. And, without a doubt, Jesus smiled.
Jesus’ ministry was like that, too. He had twelve friends in whom He invested on a daily basis. Three of those were extremely close friends. He had other friends whom He celebrated life with. But His impact didn’t stop with just those people. He also made Himself available to those “strangers” along the way that God put in His path. People who needed healing, comfort, forgiveness, a miracle. Even when those times of connection were momentary, they had great impact because they were accompanied by great love.
Most of us will encounter a “stranger” of some kind today. Even without us looking, opportunities will present themselves. If God asks, will we be the one to extend a hand or an ear, if even for just a moment? Will our lives be so permeated with love that they can’t help but leave an imprint on the lives of others? Jesus, let it be…
John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 25:40 – “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
John 15:17 – This is my command: Love each other.
