The Waiting Room

I was sitting in the waiting room of the orthodontist’s office after my appointment, now waiting for my mom’s appointment to finish.  I pulled out my smartphone to check my emails, facebook, pinterest, my calendar, text a few people.... and then start the whole process all over again.  There must be something new on facebook since the last time I checked it 10 minutes ago, right? ;)   As I’m doing all of this, a family walked in and sat in the same area as I did.  I noticed right away the unusual family structure - a punk-ish looking teenage boy, and what looked like to be his grandparents.  I don’t know their ethnicity, but my first thought was Jamaican, which could be totally wrong.   Anyway, as their grandson walked to check in and went to his appointment, the grandparents had a very interesting conversation.  At first they joked in a reminiscent way about their grandson being old enough to handle his own appointments. Then, as I was checking my social media sites,  I caught snippets of conversation about receiving custody, a girl who was apparently bipolar, and even not having control over what girl their grandson would end up with.  They talked in a kind of wistful way; they were joking about some things, but you could tell that this conversation was rooted in deep concern.   

Side note:  I have to tell you that they were the cutest older couple I think I’ve ever seen.  The man was wearing as suit, large glasses, and a fedora.  The woman was dressed in a similar old-fashioned classy style.  And they seemed super sweet.  I totally would have loved to have had them as my grandparents. :)  

Anyway. ;)  As I was eavesdropping on their conversation (unintentionally, of course. :P) a thought struck me.  They really didn’t have control over their grandson or their various predicaments.  Now, I of course don’t know whether they were Christians or not.  If I see them in heaven, I’ll definitely have to tell them this story. :)  But....I had the feeling that they needed someone to trust these situations to.  They needed Him to trust their situations to.  

And I wanted to tell them.  I wanted to tell them about the One I know who has sustained me through hard times and the One to whom I have been able to trust my loved ones to.   But I didn’t know where to start.  

My mom’s appointment took long enough.  Almost 45 minutes after mine ended, actually.   When the grandson returned, the man made a joke about “Now he needs me. Now that he needs to pay for the appointment.” and winked to his wife, who sat chuckling.  

I had time.  I had the desire.  

But I didn’t know where to start.

How many opportunities am I missing?  I have the desire. I even know what to say. But I don’t know where to start, or how to approach them.  And as I sat behind my smartphone screen, I felt appalled.  Yes, I’m introverted.  Yes, I was finding a way to use up my time.  But I was also wasting time.  Precious time.  Time that could eternally impact others.  Life isn’t a waiting room, for me to just use up time until the next exciting thing happens.  

I need to be equipped.  Conversation starters - yes, I need to look some of those up from the multiple books on evangelism that I know are out there.  And yes, I need to conquer my fear of walking up to a stranger, much less talking to one.  ;)  

But more than all of that - I need to stop wasting time. I need to stop treating life as a waiting room.

Prayer

    Today as I was getting ready to post my week of photos, my computer goofed up. So I don't have all my pictures right now. Hopefully by tonight. Anyway, that's part of my challenge, but I have a different one for you.

The Boston Marathon was bombed today. As I'm posting this, I don't know much except for the fact that there were two explosions, and a controlled one. I've heard that 23 are injured and two killed, but that's not the final count. So, I sat there after receiving the news and prayed. I encourage you to do the same. And I challenge you to continue praying even after you've run out of words. To just sit there in silence. For, Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helps our weakness: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Sunday morning our Pastor talked partially about just being still. We are so caught up in our lives, with technology, with work, with school, and with people. None of those things are bad, or evil, unless we use them as excuses to not just sit, and spend time with God. I've seen myself doing it more and more. Saying, oh, I have to go do this, this, and this, so I'll have to put off devotions, or praying right now. This world is hurting, and although sitting there and praying won't necessarily change the world, it will change you.

           Also, while you pray for people, please keep Ryan's family in your prayers - their blog.

Be sure not to get bogged down in the cares of this world. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Phil. 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." No matter what happens or has happened. Jesus won.

*Carried* the Net

Part 2 of Carrying the Net

Well, I did it.  I volunteered to carry the net.   Actually, I wore the net most of the time as a scarf.  ‘Twas much more convenient when working, and I didn’t lose it or leave it somewhere quite so often.  ;)  I apologize now for not taking a picture of myself wearing the net, as I had planned to do. Anyway, it was an interesting week!  What was most interesting was how quickly it passed.  I worked three days, went to a school musical and a school play,  went to music lessons, and of course went to church and youth group.   

Less than two hours after I had the net, and before I had decided to wear the net, I walked in to Subway with my fellow muse Thalia, and the lady at the counter immediately asked “So, did you win the game?!”  I gave her a blank stare until she motioned to my net, and proceeded to chuckle and explain to her my purpose for carrying the net.  Because I chose to wear the net the rest of the week rather than carry it around, I think I got more comments.  One person thought I was excited about March Madness, and another very basketball-coach-looking guy commented on the net, saying “That’s a net! Is that a net?!”  Ok, the basketball coach part is just a hunch. ;)  Another sweet lady with whom I am acquainted commented saying, “Oh, did you make that?  Those types of scarves are coming into style now!”  Another somewhat outspoken girl at my library asked bluntly, “[My name], why are you wearing netting as a scarf?”   The weird looks I got were a little more amusing at times.  And of course my immediate and church families commented on the net, though they already knew full well why I was wearing it.  

Carrying the Net

    Would I have carried the net? Would I be willing to risk the questions? How practical would it really be? I kept telling myself that there was no way I could pull that off. And the only people I would really see would be my family. Well, and my co-workers, but I couldn’t really carry it while I worked, could I? The orthodontist’s office, my martial arts class, and the four day road trip I am going to be taking; I suddenly realized how many people I would interact with this week. 

     Allow me to explain the situation to you all. Our Sunday School class is held in a section of the gymnasium right under the basketball net. At the beginning of class, our teacher/youth pastor asked a couple of our taller guys to stand on one of the tables to take the net off the basketball hoop. He was going to buy a new basketball net the next day, so this one was disposable. But rather than throwing it away, our youth pastor asked for volunteers. I personally thought He was going to use someone as a demonstration and tie them up with the net, or something else equally ridiculous. A few raised their hands immediately, but our youth pastor smiled, and reminded them not to volunteer for something they knew nothing about. He then proceeded to explain his purpose. This week one volunteer would carry the net at all times. If anyone asked him about the net, he would be reminded of Jesus commissioning His disciples to be fishers of men. (Basketball net, fishing net, apparently it's the same difference.) Then the person would explain this, and would also explain the gospel. Even if no one asked about the net, it would still remind him to be looking for opportunities.