She approached me. I hadn't seen her in years. We briefly caught up and shared stories. We spoke about kids and church and ended on things like evangelism. It was a momentary encounter with an ending that left me dumbfounded.
"There just aren't a lot of opportunities to share the gospel," she said. "Most of our friends are Christians and at baseball games and such there just isn't that much time. It seems we live in a bubble." Hmmm...I thought of my Muslim neighbor, the "Christian" friend who really just goes to church because it's the moral thing to do, the stranger at the store, my children.
We headed in the direction of our cars and sort of said goodbye as we were mutually approached by Vanessa. Vanessa carried a bucket filled with candy, Pixie sticks standing tall. She wore a shirt that matched her friends not so far off in the parking lot. I'd met these gals before. I'd shared words and time, a book and prayer. I'd prayed for the women in the ministry represented by Vanessa. These women live in a group home. They haven't had it easy. But since when has easy hurled someone headlong toward the feet of Christ? I'm certain that has much to do with why these women love Jesus, why these women need Jesus. They're refreshingly real and raw, their powerfully beautiful stories of redemption.
"I don't engage in open solicitation," the woman I'd been speaking with of evangelism literally seconds before announced abruptly as she hurriedly jumped in her car, church bumper sticker plastered on back. She drove away and that was that.
Well, OK then. That was odd, I thought. Here we were mere blinks before speaking of opportunities for evangelism, seemingly non-existent in "the bubble". It was an iconically ironic moment.
A bit frazzled by the dismissal, I entered into conversation with Vanessa. I'm always encouraged by the Vanessas. Something in my heart resonates with the Thelmas. I asked how the gal I'd met from their ministry years before was doing. Annabelle was her name. I've not forgotten her. I won't forget her. She's not well I'm sad to say, though the details of her story are hers. I pray for her right then and there knowing God has not forgotten her. He WILL NOT forget her! He is with her now...wherever she may be. (Please, please pray for Annabelle!)
I explain to Vanessa that I'm empty but prayerfully able to offer words from the Word through the Holy Spirit who speaks through emptiness to encourage to the fullest as only He can do. She gets it. Tears well. It's as if we're immediately yoked, we two vastly different women, who know intimately the same God.
I see the opportunity to evangelize, to strengthen a disciple. It's right in front of me if I choose. I see that she too can minister to me. And, what if I'd kept walking? What if I drove away?
We talk about her daughter and the beacon she will be for Jesus. I share about my own parents who only met Christ in their thirties, but gave legacy to the next generation (mine), which would bear the torch for another generation, and another, and another I pray. She sees it too. Her eyes gleam, forehead too. It's hot in the parking lot sun. But, Vanessa doesn't mind. She has purpose being there. She's not afraid to be ignored.
When our 20 minutes was done (complete with at least 5 hugs...I'm a hugger) and I drove home praying for those women by name, I had a hard time coming to grips with just how many opportunities we miss. If we would just be bold enough, if we would just slow down enough for the one, if we would just own truth so much that we can't ignore the urge to give it away, how usable we would be. How usable we can be!
I'm thinking about Vanessa. I'm thinking about opportunities right in front of us every day. I'm thinking about how dumped out people can be the voice of Jesus to hurting hearts if we would just make ourselves available, if we would resist the temptation to walk by. I'm thinking of how Vanessa's faith spoke to me, how much the one who drove away had missed.
I don't need Pixie sticks, but what Vanessa gave me in exchange for our encounter was so much more than what I gave her. I pray her heart was encouraged, but more, I'm grateful for the Jesus I saw in her eyes. I'm eager to seek out evangelistic opportunities unashamed. I'm on the lookout right here in the bubble. I'm begging God to redeem Annabelle once again, to draw the prodigal home! I'm asking Him to fill poured out me with boldness and encouragements for others straight from the heart of Him. I'm lifting up my sisters in Christ who've found faith, hope, and love through group home ministry and also for those of us who walk right by, drive away all too often when the Vanessas are right in front of us.
"Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" Matthew 9:37-38
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16
