This morning my wife and I drove into Cardiff for my doctor’s appointment at the University of Wales Hospital. After waiting an hour past my appointment time, I was a little cranky from the pain: a large cyst in my jaw was found nearly a month ago when my local dentist could not find anything wrong with my teeth. Surgery was scheduled for last Friday, but canceled at the last minute due to a lack of bed space—a common problem in the National Health Service due to extremely high occupancy in British hospitals. Not willing to simply wait passively for another surgery date to come through my letter box, I requested an appointment with my doctor to see what could be done to expedite the process.
The reason I share the above details is to show that the most mundane events of life can present opportunities for befriending those around us—even when extreme pain may be the driving force behind such encounters—and being sensitive to God’s amazing work in human hearts. Unfortunately, our lives are lived at such a pace that we seldom recognize these missional moments; or we so compartmentalize our lives into secular and sacred that we fail to see how God could use us in a doctor’s office or waiting room or a quick lunch at McDonalds.
I was a little irritated when a junior doctor walked into the room and began asking questions, looking at my chart for what seemed to be the very first time, and all I could think was, “Great! My own doctor has handed me off to someone else!” As I studied this man’s facial features and his thick accent, I placed his cultural heritage as somewhere in the Middle East; and he eventually confirmed his home country as Iraq and explained that he had been furthering his medical education in Wales for the past three years. He asked what brought me to Wales and I remember cringing at the question, because an honest answer often causes walls to go up and that’s the last thing I wanted to happen. So I responded, “A job opportunity opened up four years ago and I took it.” But he persisted, “And what sort of work do you do?” With no way out, I said, “I am a Christian and I work in church development.”
An interesting conversation ensued. He remarked that he and his wife had been looking for an opportunity to give something back to their community; and although he was a committed Muslim, some of his Iraqi friends had mentioned that Christian churches are often at the forefront of local community action. So I shared one example of a church in Cardiff that works with asylum seekers: people who have fled to Britain under personal or political persecution in their home countries, who are seeking protection and safe refuge in the United Kingdom. I was able to share with him how that particular church seeks to provide food, friendship, recreation, and a place to hang out for those who have failed to gain asylum, but who can no longer return to their own country. I walked away quite impressed that this man, who works fifteen-hour days, feels compelled to invest in his community while many Christians seem oblivious to the needs around them.
On our way home, we stopped at McDonalds for lunch before a brief shopping trip at a nearby Wal-Mart (Asda). As we were eating, I noticed an automobile with its hood raised and a very frustrated-looking, sweaty man peering into the engine compartment. His wife had just brought food to their three children in the back seat and as she handed her husband a cell phone, I just felt as if God were prompting me to offer our assistance. As we left the restaurant, I asked if there was anything we could do to help them. It turns out that they had just left their home a few miles away to embark on a family vacation, but the car overheated before getting on the motorway. I don’t know what we could have done for him, except provide a place for his family to rest while waiting on the repair of their vehicle, but it seemed like the right thing to do and I trust that, if nothing else, his confidence in humanity will be strengthened by our offer of kindness.
I wish I were far more discerning on a regular basis, but I’m not. God’s activity all around us is amazing! If we could only see with greater vision and enter into those missional moments with more confidence, I am convinced that we would see that the harvest truly is plentiful, even in the secular postmodernity of the United Kingdom.
This is very true. I wish I was more sensitive to God’s leading and placement in my life. Most of the time we are so caught in our human nature of ME ME ME, that we miss out on these opportunities.
I try hard not to judge others, but sometimes it’s extremely difficult when you see “Christians” being your average human, instead of what we are called to be.
Last week I had to go into the Sprint store and buy a new cellphone. The stroller had been taken out of the van, and I didn’t realize it until I got there. Not wanting to drive all the way back home (about 20 miles), I decided to brave through it with all 3 kids in tow. My son (5) and daughter (3) were being quite rambunctious and the baby (1) was in my arms. As baby reached for something, I grabbed it and put it back on the counter, and at that moment he grabbed my wallet and turned it upside down. Coins covered the floor and I was on the verge of tears! I already had 2 kids running around, and now I’m trying to hold baby and clean up the coins while everyone around in their business attire just laughed and stayed about their business. No offer of help or assistance, and there was probably at least 4 employees just standing around. I was embarrassed and felt like all eyes were on me. I quickly tried to clean up the coins and persuade the kids to help me, which turned into them fighting over the coins…All this to say that when the mess was cleaned up, the annoyed sales agent standing behind the counter waiting on my signature saw my copy of “The Message” Bible in my bag (that Aidan had tipped over). She then asked me where I went to church, and I replied with the name of my church. Her attitude changed slightly, as she told me where she went and went on to list the events she’s involved in within that congregation, and maybe this is wrong but in my head I was thinking “Mental note, don’t visit that church!” LOL.
Maybe if she knew I was a Christian beforehand she would have helped me? Or maybe not. Who knows…but the fact that she was, and I was clearly in need of help or at least an offer of understanding, really made me think about my expectations of people and Christians. It’s a little sad that today as Christians, we aren’t any different than those who aren’t, but if you are in our “Christian club” maybe we’ll be more apt to lend a hand when you need it.
Just made me think of that day…and it made me think about being more aware of other people so that I’m not that person that make people get a bad taste in their mouth for God or anything relating to him.