Missed Appointments

Yesterday afternoon I found myself sitting in my car in our driveway after picking up the kids from school…drained and tired.  I was praying about life questions that I had.  “God, what’s next?  What does my future hold?  What impact should I be having on this world?”  I was probably sitting there for about 10 minutes when I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed a van that had broken down in the street right in front of my house.  I wish my first thought was one of …how awesome,…an opportunity to reach out and serve others in need.  However, it was more like…great, another drain on me.  I wish this was the first mistake I made, but, unfortunately, there were more to come.  I got out and walked over to see if I could help and the man asked if I had any fuel.  He also let me know how rough his situation really was.  He and his entire family were here from Austin (5 1/2 hours a way) because his truck had broken down…he had spent all of his funds on the truck…it still didn’t work…he was out of money and fuel…they hadn’t even eaten yet today (it was about 4:30 in the afternoon.  My pathetic response was to give him the gallon of gas that I had in the shed, slipped him 50 bucks and sent him on his way.  As soon as he and his family pulled out, I finally heard what the Holy Spirit was trying to say to me…”when I was hungry, why didn’t you feed me…when I was dirty, why didn’t you offer me a bath…when I was in need of fuel why didn’t you take me to the gas station and fill my tank? 

I literally jumped into my car and tried to track this family down…to no avail.  I am a “reverend” for crying out loud!  I was so consumed with my own thoughts and needs that I couldn’t see that Christ simply wanted me to be him with skin on to this family.  I know I am sounding like I am harboring guilt…I am not.  I have sought forgiveness and have received it.  What I am feeling now is conviction and a need to stay on the alert…to stay focused on Him and to be ever ready to listen and obey.

God answered my question of what was next with this opportunity to serve.  I blew it yesterday.  Thank God he gave me another day to better hear His voice and follow through with worship/obedience.

 

How about you…are you on the alert for God’s divine appointments?  I pray we all are!!!

 

Christ Has No Body ~Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which

he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)