That One Question: Part 2

    We have recessed ceiling lights in our kitchen. With the flip of a switch, our whole kitchen lights up. We avoid stubbing a toe or tripping over a pet. We can start an early day in a once dark room, flip on the coffee maker, reach for cups and platters, and alert the kitchen to its purpose, all under bright lighting. 

    But there is one recessed light that we forget to use. It isn't activated when the other recessed lights are prompted to work. It's a directional spotlight that illuminates only the kitchen island. The switch for it isn't on the kitchen toggle plate. Instead, it rests against the back of the kitchen toggle switch around the corner on the dining room wall. We forget about it. It has a dimmer, too. Its soft beam would rest easier on the eyes early in the morning. 

     More times than not we question why we miss the opportunity to use that one spotlight.

    Have you ever wondered about missed opportunities?   We have.                                                                                                              

   

     When we travel overseas to Spanish-speaking countries, we carry two small business-sized cards that carry two different scriptures on them.  On one side of the card, the scripture is in English, the flip side reads in Spanish. 

   

     Many times, God gifts us with conversational settings. We practice our broken Spanish, and they use their broken English. It's fun, purposeful engagement, and a fantastic way to learn more about culture and foods. 

    Eventually, we always ask that one question in English: "Do you have a church home?" Or, ask in Spanish, "Tienes una Iglesia local?"

    Immediate reactions are revealing, of course, as they would be in any culture. Multiple times, that question leads into authentic conversation about their church, their pastor, and their ministries. We share about our church and ministries. 

    Eventually, we offer our scripture cards to them. One couple in Argentina, placed their cards on the back panel of their phones under the protective shield. 

         Do we ever forget to ask that question or offer the cards? Yes. Sadly, several incidents come to mind. Though the Irish don't speak Spanish, we should have offered our Uber driver a card. He was curious and asked questions about our faith. When dropped off at the airport that day, I could have reached into my crossover and shared a card, but I forgot.  Another time in Ireland, we met two young adult women from Ukraine in a church vestibule and started a conversation about baptism as we focused on the baptistry. Of course, they didn't speak Spanish, but one side of the card has the scripture in English. The card unfailingly opens up spiritual conversation and leads to that one question: Do you have a church home?  Why didn't we share the scripture cards with them? We simply forgot, much like forgetting to flip on the spotlight that illuminates the dark space in our kitchen.  

    

    The Psalmist nailed it when he wrote,  "Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you."   

    Does God redeem lost opportunities? Indeed, He does. When we retrace our walk and ask God to share His light in places where we forgot to, He will. Where we walk matters to God. 

    

    Do you have that one question that opens up a non-threatening conversation about spiritual matters? You can have our question. And, we encourage you to print cards with scriptures that are relevant to the lives you most commonly encounter.    

 "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness."                       (John 12:46)

Keep Looking Up!

J:m and L:nda

 

That One Question: Part 1

     I was about two miles back to the start of the trailhead when I heard someone behind me ask, "Did you walk the Camino?" I turned to see another solo hiker heading back down the mountain.

    "Yes, we did. Are you thinking about walking it?"

    "I am," she answered. "I'm walking the Portuguese in April."

    "That was our first Camino in 2022. It's a good one," I replied.

    We stopped on the trail and introduced ourselves. 

     Curiously, I asked Claire, "How did you know I had walked a Camino?"

    "I saw the shell on the back of your backpack," She pointed.

    

    There is an actual shell that often swings from the back of a pilgrim's backpack, symbolizing the walk of the modern-day pilgrim toward the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago, Spain where Saint James the Apostle is laid to rest. 

    My backpack doesn't display a scalloped shell, but I do have a Camino pin that displays the yellow shell above the yellow arrow, symbolic of directing pilgrims along the hundreds of miles of collective paths on the Camino, called the "Way."

 

   Since that random meeting on the hiking path, Claire and I have joined a local Camino Chapter of 801 members who have had meaningful experiences walking the many Camino paths across Spain toward Santiago. They are a wealth of information for anyone considering a pilgrimage. We have gone to Camino meetings and hiked with a few of our 801 friends in Arizona. We have introduced our husbands during one hike and introduced another couple to Claire and her husband. 

    She leaves in April to solo walk the Portuguese Camino, and we leave in September to walk our third one, the Camino Ingles, which is a new one for us. 

    

 Now, when Claire and I hike, we talk about her solo Camino plans and I share our past experiences. 

 

    What is the significance of a Camino pilgrimage? The route's origin is synonymous with a religious trek finishing in either Jerusalem, Rome or Santiago, Spain. Pilgrims often start walking in nearby countries and walk for days and months toward their goal city.  Pilgrims can set their own pace and mileage per day. They walk to experience new surroundings, to meet new friends or perhaps to mourn a loss. However, for many, despite their emotions when they begin, the walk becomes a spiritual journey. 

   

     I was hiking solo on that mountain that day, and so was Claire.

My friend is Catholic and I am Baptist, yet we share the common faith that calls so many to walk this spiritual pilgrimage. She is not ashamed of the gospel and neither am I. 

     I did not need to be convinced to continue the hike back to the start of the trailhead. It was a warm day and I had already finished six miles, so walking and talking with someone along the way, only shortened the two miles back down. Her welcomed inquiry resulted in a good friendship. 

   

     Jesus knew who would ask That One Question of Him - He invested in twelve followers who asked, "Where are you staying?" His reply was "Come and See." They asked one question that profoundly brought about a deep spiritual kinship with the Messiah, resulting in surprising and blessed opportunities beyond expectation. They walked with Him. 

    That One Question opened so many unexpected blessings for me. Claire's attention was drawn to a small, yet definable pin on my backpack. From that question, a Christian friendship has developed. 

    Jim and I have That One Question.  Read about it in That One Question: Part 2

   Keep Looking Up!

    J:m and L:nda