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
