Envision this : A middle-aged woman is in the grocery store. Sad. Depressed. Life is not giving her any breaks. She is checking out the red grapes as she notices a harried woman rushing through the store. Miss Harried Woman leaves her cart to grab a bag of red grapes and turns back to her single minded activity – getting her groceries and moving on.
Miss Sad and Depressed selects her grapes and moves to the bananas as she notices a new woman in the store. This one is smiling and moving quickly, but has a peace about her. They both stand in front of the bananas as Miss Smiling muses that she likes her bananas with some green on them. Reaching under the display she pulls a bunch of green bananas and triumphantly places them in her cart. She then reaches under and pulls another green bunch of bananas and places them in front of Miss Sad and Depressed. “Do you like them green too?” Miss smiling asks.
Miss Sad and Depressed can barely talk. Someone was nice to her. She takes the bananas and finishes her grocery shopping, head held high. In the checkout line she is behind Miss Harried Woman, tapping her foot and loudly sighing as the clerk calls for a price check. Miss Sad and Depressed moves to the next line over, behind Miss Smiling and has a sweet conversation that stays with her for the entire day. Someone cares. If only she knew why Miss Smiling looked so peaceful. If she sees Miss Smiling at the store again, maybe she’ll ask . . .
Have you heard the term “You may be the only Bible a person reads.”? Well, it’s true. Many people look to others to explain books to them. Even the Bible! The Bible tells us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19). We are to share the Good News. Why keep it a secret?
Though it is not my hearts desire, I’m sad to say I am that Harried Woman from time to time as I rush to complete my tasks daily and weekly. How quickly do we NEED to move through the grocery store? How quickly do we NEED to drive to get to our destination? What if your quick movements out shopping or aggressive driving habits were a stumbling block?
Something to consider next time we look at red grapes or look down at our speedometer.