Yesterday’s quote was intended as a nudge to you and me.
Earlier this spring I spoke to a park supervisor about one of our rest stops. He was honestly surprised that we wanted to be located in a spot where we would encounter lots of other folks. He said most events were just the opposite.
I explained that our rest stops go out of their way to attract people who aren’t part of our event. We hope they will stop, ask what we’re doing, and maybe even take a snack. It’s not just about marketing and spreading the word.
I always tell our rest stop leaders – you never know when someone truly needs to hear about our message. A simple rest stop may be an opportunity for a God-inspired appointment.
I love the notion that lots of people find out about our kids. I hope something inspires them to get involved and seek justice, whether it’s with us or somewhere else.
But I could tell you stories – occasions when someone walked or biked up to one of our stops and ended up in a long, deep, sometimes difficult conversation. Maybe that person left home feeling lonely, like nobody cared, and they came across this group of silly people in brightly-colored T-shirts handing out water and snacks.
And somehow, a conversation began. And suddenly, one of our rest stop folks wasn’t doing their “job.” Because they were available and willing to be interrupted.
I’m not claiming that sort of thing happens all the time. Most often, a rest stop is simply a rest stop.
But whether we’re taking a walk, riding a bike, or doing any other apparently normal task, you and I can’t know if the person we’re about to encounter needs something Jesus has prepared just for us.
The hard question – Are we willing to be interrupted?