I pull up to a red light at a mostly empty intersection, and to my left is a rough lookin' dude with a sign that reads, "Veteran in need. God bless." This man has come across my path.
I embark on an 11 month mission trip to help people and spread the great news of Jesus and at some point find myself with a group of children in a church with a a dirt floor in Tanzania. These children have come across my path.
I go to church to be around an irreplacable community of wildly unique and interesting people, and a friend of mine seems slightly distant and a little down. This woman has come across my path.
You know that old, tired, cliche analogy about the woman and the thousands of starfish littering the beach? About how she's throwing each one back into the ocean, one at a time, and when confronted with the fact she can't save them all responds with, "No, but I can save THIS one."? Well…I think about that from time to time.
And you you know how there's a debate of whether or not short term mission trips are really effective, and is anything really able to be accomplished? I mean really accomplished? Well…I think about that from time to time as well.
As I've thought, I've come to a single conclusion. I relate to that lady on the beach, in that I can only "help" those who come across my path. Whether I know them personally or not. Whether or not I set out in search of them, or they were a unique surprise to my day which I wasn't expecting. Regardless of circumstance and personal relationship, they are the only ones I'm able to encounter, the ones in my path.
As I've thought about THAT, I've come to another conclusion. Whether I seek those people, or they sought me, or we simply ran across one another in daily life…God is in it. I've had too many incredible occurances to believe it all happens by chance. Far too many, which forces me to believe God is at work, bringing us together. And bringing us together with purpose.
Because I cannot come across everyone, I am resigned to loving those who come across my path. And because I do not believe my path is dictated by luck, chance or circumstance, I am resigned to having faith that these are the people God has intended me to come across. He does not expect me to come across everyone, only these. These are the people for me to encounter, and to intentionaly release love upon. A love that hopefully draws them into relatonship, or deeper relationship, with their Father.
It doesn't matter whether I set out on a journey to meet and help, or encounter them unexpectedly…the ones I encounter are the ones God is asking me to love, to heal, to speak truth to and treat with dignity and respect. Regardless of how long we may have together. Regardless of what I think can be accomplished. I am not called to encouter the world…only those in the world who cross my path…and my path is guided by One and only One.
So I am forced into faith. Faith to rely on something far greater than myself, than my ability and my actions. I am reduced to living by faith in my Good God, and in Him alone. As a believer, I am forced to live in faith. There is no other alternative. I cannot do everything and meet everyone. I am resigned to faith that my path is no accident, and I am not called to anything other than my path. I am resigned to simply trust God with that path, and to trust Him alone. Because I am extremely limited I am forced to live by faith. Faith that these are the people God is introducing me to, and faith that my encounter with them, no mater how long (or short) is worthwhile. I am forced to live by faith. And I think I am finally starting to release myself into that…
