This
past Friday the garbage men came early; this is quite unusual, but it
does happen from time to time. What was unique though, was my wife’s
reaction. I was working at my computer, writing my Friday blog post
when she came in the front door all excited. She kept saying: You
gotta see this, you gotta see this – over an over. So, I arose from
my chair and went outside as quickly as I could. But, alas the
garbage truck was gone. So, I turned to my Linda and asked: OK, what
was that all about?! She explained; I was tending my flowers when
they came and I happened to turn around to see a garbage man pick up
an old chair that someone had discarded and sat on it. Huh, I said-
What’s the big deal about that? Well, she said- he put the chair
behind the truck and sat on it and when the truck went forward he
grabbed hold of the back of the truck and just rolled along behind
it. Cool, I said and went back into the house. About an hour later,
as I was going down the hill on Pal’s dog walk, the garbage truck
came around the corner with that man still sitting in that chair! I
asked him if I could take a picture, Pal jumped onto his lap and then
(ALL TOO QUICKLY, HE HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK). I wished I had had more
time to strike up a conversation with him, but at least I took the
picture. I thought about it a bit and realized that opportunities to
speak to others come and go all to quickly. We must seize whatever
opportunities lie before us to talk about Jesus. And I thought of
these two passages of Scripture…
Colossians
4 ( World English
Bible )
[1] Masters,
give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you
also have a Master in heaven.
[2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; [3] praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; [4] that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. [5] Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. [6] Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
[2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; [3] praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; [4] that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. [5] Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. [6] Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
2
Timothy 4 ( WEB )
[1] I
command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his
Kingdom: [2] preach
the word; be
urgent in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. [3] For
the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine,
but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after
their own lusts; [4] and
will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to
fables. [5] But
you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an
evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
That
garbage man ( they were called can-tossers when I did that job in
1968 ) took advantage of an opportunity to make his life a little
easier (with that chair with wheels)
and we, as Christians need to seize every moment so
we
can share the Good News of Jesus.
ps.
The next time I see that can-tosser, we WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK
ABOUT!