I read Max Lucado’s quote from a couple of days ago.
When traveling, if he’s in the mood to chat with fellow travelers,
And when asked what line he’s in, he says, “I’m a writer.“
When not in the mood? “I’m a preacher.”
Who would you much rather talk with?
As I looked back over my travels, I’m sure you, too,
Know there are times we want to engage
And many other times, we want to be self-absorbed.
The same is true about all other encounters.
Sometimes we do. Oft times, we don’t.
No matter which, I don’t want to be rude.
It’s then I keep my noise-canceling headset on.
But I’ve also prayed and tried to make this a daily word.
“Lord, put me in contact with someone
closest to Eternity. May I become a difference.”
That’s the game changer. You are now a winner.
Not every encounter produces instant results.
But is that the point? When you are engaging others
You are planting seeds of Hope and Encouragement
That may not be felt for days to come.
Not every encounter requires you to be a conversationalist.
Too many times, someone needs to bend your ear,
Be a good listener. You are their sounding board.
Even when you have no clue about their dilemma.
Other times, you help breach the dam of loneliness.
What comes gushing out of the breach
May well be the blessing you need yourself.
See. Engaging others can be a win for both of you.
As you prepare for this day to face the life before you
Take a moment and think about yourself and others.
What if you are the one that needs your fellow traveler
To be the one that is willing to engage with you?
Luke 24:13-32 NKJV
[Of many biblical encounters, this one blesses me everything I read it.]
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day
to a village called Emmaus,
which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned,
that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained,
so that they did not know Him.
And He said to them,
“What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him,
“Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem,
and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him,
“The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
and how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death,
and crucified Him.
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.
Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
Yes, and certain women of our company,
who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
When they did not find His body,
they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels
who said He was alive.
And certain of those who were with us
went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said;
but Him they did not see.”
Then He said to them,
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets,
He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Then they drew near to the village where they were going,
and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
But they constrained Him, saying,
“Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”
And He went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them,
that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him;
and He vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another,
“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road,
and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
