Responding

Shane decided to make a quick stop at Costco before heading home for the day.  After loading his truck, he returned his cart to the cart stall.  That’s when he noticed another abandoned cart and retrieved it.  Passing two other carts, he pulled them as well.  There were four other carts, but they were further away.  He sensed that he should get them, but decided with it raining and cold he would leave them.  On the way home, Shane felt like he hadn’t completed his mission.  A few weeks later, Shane was in the same parking lot.  This time it was dark, late, and almost closing time.  The rain was blowing sideways and it was windy, with freezing temperatures.  Because of the conditions, there were more than the usual number of carts left in the parking lot.  This time, Shane decided to obey the still small voice to get them all to the return area.  He even untangled the carts that had crashed together and took the flatbed carts back to the store.  Shane responded, “I have no idea why God asked me to put the carts away.  I only know he asked me.  That part I am sure of.”  He thought that maybe it was to lighten the load for the worker assigned to that task or a way for God to show that he was looking out for them.  Shane challenged, “If God can’t trust us with His small jobs how can He ever trust us with His big ones.”

The Israeli women played the Kenyan team in the Women’s Lacrosse World Championship Games in Ontario, Canada.  It didn’t take long for the Israeli women to notice that their opponents were at a disadvantage because they were playing without cleats.  After the game, the Israeli team met up with the tournament officials and came up with a plan.  The next day the two teams met again and each member of the Kenyan team was given a brand-new pair of cleats.  The joy was contagious.  The Kenyan girls went on to win their game the next day against Belgium 16-9.  They thanked the Israeli women for their help in providing the needed shoes.  “The support from all around the world for our African Queens is priceless and hugely humbling.  The attention on and off the pitch for these players is more than all the nations competing combined…and rightly so.”

 

Chris and Tara Carter were driving home with their children, Kylie and Gage.  Suddenly Chris turned the jeep around.  After pulling over, he got out and asked Tara to take the groceries home and then come back to get him.  They watched as Chris took the push mower from an elderly gentleman and began to mow his grass for him.  Tara responded, “I pray that my son learns from this and randomly helps people do things like his father does.”

 

May we, too, be quick to look for, find, and respond to opportunities.

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:34-35