Perhaps our busyness is the biggest obstacle in seeing Jesus in others.
I had the joy of visiting Wal-Mart a couple of days ago. I really hate going there. It’s always so crowded and honestly, I hate all of the negativity I see there. It seems like people come from miles around to bring their children there, so they can yell at them. I always see a lot of unhappy people in general, when I go.
However, when you need a bottle of sunscreen, some mascara and a bag of dog food, it really is the quickest and easiest choice. Yes, Target carries all of those things, but Wal-Mart was much closer. So, in I went. I was kind of short on time, as usual, I had a car rider line to go wait in, but I found myself on the dog accessories aisle, searching for a collar.
As is normally the case, nothing was very organized and the sizes were all mixed up. I was digging through the chaos without much luck, when an elderly lady touched my arm. She was digging through the dog harnesses and she was having trouble deciding which one would fit her dog.
I don’t know why, perhaps it was the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit, (remember kindness is one of the fruits.), but I stopped what I was doing and gave her my full attention. She was very soft-spoken and I had to lean in to hear her. I asked her what kind of dog she had. I was expecting some little mixed breed. She smiled and told me it was a Shih Tzu. At this point, I knew I was being a good spiritual listener and I leaned in a little closer.
You see, my parents had a Shih Tzu for years. She was the sweetest dog I have ever known. She loved everybody she met and had so much personality. She lived a good long life, but they lost her to cancer. They were devastated. Of course, God put an elderly woman across my path with that breed. I could almost feel Him whispering to me that I was doing just as He wanted.
We compared the harnesses and she told me her dog was three and that she was worried that using a regular collar with a leash, would strain her neck. I told her I would go with the medium one. I hope I told her right, because my dogs are always fat and I have to buy a size up. I assured her that Wal-Mart is really good about taking merchandise back.
We chatted a few more minutes and she thanked me. I was out of time to search for a collar for my dog, but it just wasn’t a big deal. As I turned to walk away, she touched my arm again, she had pulled out a rather large flip phone and she had a picture of her dog on it that she wanted to share. She was gorgeous and the lady beamed with pride at my reaction. We said goodbye and I left.
As much as I loathe going to Wal-Mart, (I won’t say it’s as bad as Ninevah, but I dread going), this isn’t the first time I’ve had the opportunity to reach out to someone while shopping there. The Bible tells us to look for Jesus in the faces of the people we come in contact with, the hungry, the lonely, the sick. Matthew 34-30
Perhaps I should start seeing visiting there as an opportunity rather than a chore. In slowing down and visiting with that woman and offering her my time, I felt blessed. I suppose it really is true that when we take the time to bless others, we get blessed ourselves. I’m trying to do a better job at listening, and listening to the often quiet voice of God, can be very difficult when we are always in a rush. I also try to watch for God in the world around me, and that day, I was rewarded with a glimpse.
As summer kicks off, I’m going to try to look around more and rush less. What about you? Have you ever encountered God in unlikely places? Feel free to share.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂