So here’s the truth. Sometimes I have a hard time on this trip because of the lack of a structured schedule. Our days tend to revolve around asking the Lord where he would have us go and then allowing him to guide our steps. At first, I was pretty skeptical towards this because when I talk to the Lord he never directly responds to me with an audible voice, picture, “vision”, or anything like that. So on this trip I have found myself sitting in the silence, not sure of what I am supposed to be listening for. Don’t get me wrong, I have actually spent quite a bit of time in prayer asking the Lord to direct me in the way he would have me go, but I tend to walk away from those conversations pretty unsatisfied, and unsure of what I should do that day.
As a result, I began feeling uneffective some days because I didn’t really have a tangible “job” to do like build a house, visit an orphanage, go to a school, or a drug rehab facility, etc. instead, we focused on community and getting to know the people who were in the cities we are in, strike up conversations with them, and maybe even pray for them. The problem was, I didn’t really realize until I came on this trip how bad I am at approaching people just to talk, encourage them, and love them. I feel like God wants us to live an intentional life. He wants us to share his kindness and goodness with everyone we meet, so why am I so hesitant to talk to a stranger and just say something nice?
I didn’t really know.
So I asked the Lord for a bit of help. I asked him to make the opportunity for conversation with others simple and easy. I also asked him for the opportunity to use the gifts I feel like he has given to me as well, like art, or music, or physical labor, etc. in order to bring glory to him.
I quickly received two answers.
My team and I headed north in India and settled down in a pretty awesome city, at a really cool hostel and the first answer came on the first day when I saw a young man painting a mural on the wall. It was almost like God said “well, you asked for it so here you go”. I approached the man and started talking to him about the piece. I soon learned he was an artist from Argentina who is just traveling through India for a bit. The mural he is doing is absolutely beautiful and has a pretty intricate design. Anyways, after chatting a bit more, I blurted out “Well if you need any help I’d love to help you.” Honestly, I don’t know where that came from. But he turned from the painting, looked me in the eye, and said “9am tomorrow morning”.
Tomorrow will be day number 3 that I get to get up in the morning, paint a mural, and have conversations with a young man who is seeking for answers, loves knowledge, and holds a lot of wisdom already. We have already had a couple really cool conversations and I’m excited to see what the Lord has for the remainder of our time together.
The second answer came the second evening when I was sitting outside with one of my teammates discussing the Bible and a few theological questions when a girl from India approached us. After talking for a few minutes she explained that she was trying to get better at talking to random people and striking up conversation. To be honest, I was pretty shocked and without thinking blurted out “me too!” (I did a lot of blurting the past couple days). She then sat down called a friend of hers over, pulled out a cigarette, and the four of us began talking. It was then that another young man from Norway approached my teammate, who had her Bible out on the table, pointed at the book and said “that’s a beautiful book, what is it?”. My mind was kind of blown at how large the door was that the Lord was opening. Long story short the five of us sat down for about 2 hours and talked about the Bible. We talked about God, we talked about religion, about truth, morality, goodness, love, etc. and when that conversation ended, two more people joined us, (an Indian, and an American) we pulled out a few instruments and had a random music session together, as friends.
Honestly, it was one of my favorite nights on this trip so far. We as people, regardless of where we are from seek truth. We desire to know what the purpose of our life is. Why are we here? What is it all for?
The truth is this. We are here to glorify the Lord of all creation and spread his love wherever we go. I am quickly finding that a simple smile, a simple hello, or a short conversation has the ability to plant a seed for the Lord in the person who is receiving that smile, hello, or conversation. Sharing the love of God doesn’t have to be scheduled, or planned (though sometimes it is, and that’s awesome too) but sometimes it looks like blurting out something you weren’t sure you were going to say, or stepping out in an act of kindness. I encourage everyone reading this to take the time to look around you and share a little bit of extra kindness with everyone you come in contact with. You never know the doors the Lord might open, or the seeds he might sow.
