I left my team at the train station this morning.
They departed for Varanasi, and I headed to my platform to wait for the train to Delhi.
So many mixed emotions and thoughts about my time with the World Race coming to an end.
It’s been such a sweet season of alumni leading, and it was weird to see my girls go off without me.
But that’s not what this blog is about.
This blog is about the day I had all by myself in Delhi.
It was really rather enjoyable.
I napped.
I rode the metro.
I read my Bible in a café inside a bookstore.
I drank chai and ate cinnamon honey toast.
I walked through the streets of New Delhi markets.
I found a Starbucks.
And that is where our story happens.
I got the last table in the coffee shop and was writing some cards to mail home this week.
As I was finishing, a sweet woman walked in and asked if she could sit at my table.
I thought she was my age.
Or younger.
Turns out, she’s just the Indian Jennifer Aniston.
We talked.
She bought me a grapefruit infused black tea with honey.
She told me about her life…she lived in New York for 8 years, she worked for the UN for a little while, her father was a foreign ambassador, she’s traveled to 5 continents, and she moved back to India to pursue her passion for yoga.
I told her about my love for travel and teaching.
We talked about all the touristy things I need to do in the next week.
She told me that I’m easy to talk to and it’s rare for her to open up to strangers.
I told her I pray in the mornings that I would meet someone wonderful everyday, and today she is who I prayed for.
We talked about how her yoga journey and her guru have given her so much peace and restored life for her.
Her spiritual name means “Divine Light.”
She told me that praying to god and her guru has changed her life.
SO MANY open doors and Gospel connections.
And you know what?
I didn’t share my faith with this woman.
I didn’t tell her about the Jesus who changed my life and brought me peace and restoration.
I didn’t tell her that he is the Divine Light who chooses to shine through each of us if we let him.
I didn’t tell her that my God not only answers prayer, but also speaks to my heart every day.
I don’t know if I was scared.
I don’t know if I was unsure of what words to use.
All I know is that I missed an opportunity.
I did ask if I could pray for her, and she said I could for her health.
And you know what happened then?
We said goodbye.
I didn’t even take the opportunity to pray and allow God to heal her right there!
You’d think that after 2 years out doing this thing I’d get it right by now.
As she walked away, I kicked myself for all of the things I just wrote about.
Then I rejoiced a little because she had given me her number.
Woo!
A second chance to make a friend!
So I set up a plan to text her and invite her to see some museums with me tomorrow.
Sweet.
Build a relationship.
Enjoy another adventure with this sweet woman’s company.
[She really did brighten my day]
And invite her to experience what it’s like to be a part of the Kingdom.
Then, the worst thing.
I put the receipt with her number in it in a bag I was carrying.
You know what I did with that bag?
Left it at the metro station.
And didn’t even realize it until I was enjoying my paneer butter masala for dinner.
So, I’m sure there’s a lesson in all of this.
And I’m bummed this isn’t a blog story with a happy ending.
All I know is that I missed an opportunity to introduce this woman to the greatest Love I’ve ever known.
And when I thought I’d for sure get a second chance, I didn’t.
I guess it goes to show the importance of keeping my Spirit on the same channel as God’s Holy Spirit.
And then allowing Him to meet and love His children through my words and actions.
That takes obedience.
That takes faith.
That takes total surrender of my agenda.
Her joy and love for her yoga journey oozed out of her and she couldn’t help but talk about it.
Why do I not always live the same way?
Sometimes, it’s pretty clear when the enemy wins a battle.
In those moments, I praise God that it’s not up to me and that he ultimately wins the War.
Because I’m human, I’m learning over and over again just how far from perfect I am.
It’s not always expected for a blog to be about a failure.
A missed opportunity.
But that happens more often than you would believe, so I share this today with the hope that we can all be encouraged to press on with endurance, and win the race set before us every day.
As I’ve taken this alumni leadership journey over the past year, I’ve learned that the best thing I can do is freely be myself.
Allow mistakes to happen.
And invite others to see what God teaches me through my own humanity.
Stories like this make me a better leader, as I open up in vulnerability with my team and find the true meaning of edifying community.
I have loved having your support through it all.
I am still in need of $1500 before I go home on May 11th.
Please consider donating ANY AMOUNT to get me closer to that deadline.
Don’t miss the opportunity 🙂
