I will do my best to give updates on things that are going on here in ATL. The Internet is free in the lobby but $5 every half hour in the room... so I'm in the lobby. Yesterday involved lots of sitting in an airport but God had big plans for it. My flight was supposed to arrive in Philadelphia at 8:15 and didn't get there until 10:00. which didn't bode well for my connection which left at 9:20, so as I settled in for a long stay at the airport waiting for the 3:00 flight to Atlanta I noticed a few things... People on Bluetooth headsets walking through crowds of people or standing in line look crazy. And also that people are really mean to the ticket agents. I watched a guy get so worked up because they wouldn't make a flight appear out of thin air, that he had to be escorted away by security. It works much better if you are nice to people, the lady even let me choose my seat.
Once the much later flight finally began, I realized that there was a reason for all that waiting. That reason was a man named Jeff who was seated next to me. I had every intention of sitting quietly in my seat for two hours when Jeff, and his thick New Jersey accent, began telling details of his life. They ranged from some FAR too intimate details about his personal relationships (and far too much doesn't really do it justice), why he doesn't use match.com to meet women anymore, to his time in the army in the 80s. After lots of hearing his story he asked me a question that I in some ways feared could bring an end to the conversation...;. "What to you do?" I explained what I do and he quickly tried to backtrack on some of the previous details that had been shared. He was visibly shocked when I told him that stuff didn't bother me. He asked me what would make me want to do ministry. It was a big time opportunity to tell my story with this man. We talked a bit about family history, faith, some theological issues he said he flat out doesn't believe. All of this because we were willing to tell each other our own story. He asked me if I did a lot of "preaching at people". It as interesting telling him that I saw far more value in talking with him, hearing about him, and being able to share my journey. I have no idea what lasting results there will be in Jeff's life because of our conversation. All I have is a genuine thanks and a look of curiosity about a faith he admitted he gave up on a long time ago. And while I'm curious about what happens in Jeff's life, I am convinced God gave me the honor being used to get a foot in the door.
Know your story, it is one of the most powerful things the Holy Spirit has given you. I had no idea my story would be used yesterday, but as with all other things, its is not just your story, it is God's story of work within you.
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