Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, February 19, 2015
Day #2 – In Conversation? In Retrospect—In Prayer
The second day of doing Lent generously! Today, the generous suggestion was to get involved in conversation with someone. A neighbor, or even a stranger.
I know I am often preoccupied, so much so that I keep my head down and just plow through life, unseeing and uncaring. At least, it must seem that way to others. So many people are almost wearing blinders! It seems that way, anyhow. Actually, I am interested in other people! Really and truly.
I decided to take my recently-bought used car in to the repair shop today. I felt my steering pulling, so I thought the car needed a wheel alignment. It was a frigid day, with the temperature hovering around zero degrees Fahrenheit. (Wind chill fifteen to twenty-five below zero . . . )
After dropping my car off, I went down the block to the Asian restaurant next to the post office. Excellent food, and not expensive, either! So, I had a delicious lunch. The server in the restaurant was a pleasant young Asian woman. As I finished my lunch—after the lunch rush had cleared out—she and I exchanged a few words.
I am a friendly person. I’ve talked here before about my propensity to engage in conversation with most anyone. At the drop of a hat. My family rolls their eyes about it. Well, it happened again, today. Naturally, almost like we were friends already, the conversation blossomed. She seemed to really enjoy it.
After we had talked for some five minutes, she finally asked me what I did for a living. “I’m a pastor.” Because she seemed to have difficulty processing that word, I helpfully supplied another. “A minister, at a church.” Her face brightened with recognition. She nodded. “Ah, yes. My husband and I, we go to a church near our home sometimes.” I told her that was wonderful! I tried to encourage her in attending church on a regular basis. She nodded again and was going to respond—when the telephone rang. Alas, she needed to take care of business, a take-out order.
I left the restaurant not long after that. (Oh, my car? Sadly, it needed tires. Plus the alignment. But I digress from the topic of this post.)
As I look over the generosity assignment for today, it says to engage in conversation, and to try to remember details about the other person. I had the bonus of the person actually asking me about my work. So, I told her! I hope and pray that this lovely young lady has the opportunity to attend that church with her husband, soon. God, grant that they may be welcomed and made to feel the friendly attitude of the people who attend there.
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