I was in the airport in Zurich, Switzerland and I was having a hard time getting to the right counter to do the things necessary for my continuing flight. As I followed the clerks instructions of which person to see, I was told to go back to where I had just been. I became angry and let the clerk know about it. She then seemed very upset and she was under some pressure, with so many people lined up at her counter. My frustration was, I did not want to get back into a long line where I had just been. Standing in ‘that’ line again I had time to realize I was the person at fault by not following the instructions correctly the person at the counter of ’that’ line had given me. So, I then had to return to the line where the clerk was that I had offended. When I arrived back there, even with many people being able to watch and hear my conversation with the clerk, I apologized to her and she then had a smile on her face as she served the passengers. I had no right to be so angry, but I did have the obligation to admit I was wrong and seek forgiveness. As a Christ Follower it was my duty to make amends. I righted a wrong. Had I not done so, that lady would have had a bad time at work that day and I would have had a bad felling knowing what I had caused.
What am I learning? Make sure of myself before I speak and cause hurt to those who are innocent. Be willing to take the bad with the good. Don’t give those outside of Christ a reason to reject the Gospel.
When I am out where there are people, such as a shopping mall or a restaurant, I am always listening for speech which is not common to where I live and when I hear a person or persons that fit this category, I ask them where they are from. I strike up a conversation with them, if possible, to find out where they are from. If they are from a country where I have had the privilege of being, I have an ‘open door’ to share with them. Just last night I met a woman from Turkey. She remembered me from a year ago. We had a good conversation.
What am I learning? I need to be alert to situations like this and where possible, follow up with more frequent visits.
In the church which I attend I have met Brethren who were born in El Salvador. Colombia, and Cuba. I have become acquainted with two of these families. There are places in my city where people from these countries gather to fellowship with others of their nationality.
What am I learning? With the assistance of these individuals who speak the language of these countries, we can visit these gathering places and begin to develop friendships whereby we could at the proper time, share proper rations of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Remember, it is our theology that is to determine our methodology.
What are you learning?
