Missed opportunities

I know how it feels to miss out on a God opportunity. I once passed a man pushing his bike along I-440. I remember thinking that he must have some kind of mechanical problem. But I was on my way to college to take an exam and I just went on pass as I watched him in the rear-view mirror. All that day and for weeks afterwards I thought about the young man and how he had needed me to stop and offer him a lift. But no! I had just passed him by, focusing on my own personal and to be completely honest, selfish agenda.

As a way to relieve my own guilt and in an effort to teach others not to make the same mistake which I had made, I used this story as a sermon illustration. It was a powerful story. I brought the congregation right into the moment. It touched hearts including mine. If only I could go back in time and live that moment over. What would have been the outcome? How would the Holy Spirit have responded? But the past is gone. Yesterday's opportunity is missed forever. What a failure on my part!

Well the story doesn't end there! Several weeks later I was traveling that same stretch of busy interstate and to my surprise and joy I saw him again in the distance. And he was pushing his bike. Yes Lord I thought! I merged right through the traffic and pulled off the road just ahead of my highway friend. I offered him a ride and he gladly accepted. We put his bike in the back of my truck and off we went together. He was a Hispanic man who spoke broken English. He was headed close to where I was going. He worked as a gardener. He was a father of three and he knew the Lord as his personal Savior! I question him about why he was pushing his bike. I thought it was broken or something. He smiled and told me that "it was too hard to make it up the hill." Can you believe it! My highway-friend didn't need the Gospel, he just needed help getting up the hill. Does God want us to just help people up the hill sometimes? Duhh!

I dropped him off at the corner. I watch him ride away into the sun. And I thanked God for allowing me a second chance with this young man. I don't remember his name but I will forever remember the experience of missing an opportunity and then being given another. Be ready today for what God has placed before you! God just might want us to help someone struggling to make it up the hill.

Lu 10:33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion."

Be the helping hand of Christ today!

Forgive us Lord when we miss the mark and help us to do better next time. Amen.