A Missed Opportunity...

A couple of months ago, I was coming home from a trip with one of my children. My ride didn't show up to the airport...turns out they had car troubles. The result?...I took a cab home. The most expensive cab ride ever... $60. After a grueling plane ride with an 18 month old. I wanted to get that baby strapped in the car seat, enjoy peace and quiet, maybe catch a few Zzz's.

The cab driver had other plans.

He started out asking me about the baby, then about my other kids, then about the importance of family. Before I knew it, he had transitioned into talking about his life and family. He was from Africa. He was working here to take care of his mother and sisters. His father had died and left the responsibility of the family to him. He had no life, no friends, no hope - only work.

I tuned him out.

After a few minutes, somewhere in the depths of my spirit, I was convicted. Convicted about how this man was telling me that he didn't see a future for himself or for his life. He only saw the day in-day out routine of "making it". I was convicted about caring so little about his plight and his view that life was only something to "get through". I was convicted b/c I had something to offer him, something that would give him hope and that would give him a future. Why didn't I go on to share my hope with him after sensing the unction to do so?

I didn't know exactly what to say...

I didn't know where to start...

I was afraid he would ask me questions I couldn't answer...

I didn't know, for certain, whether or not he would want the hope I offered...

I was afraid I wouldn't explain my living hope in just the right way...

I got out of the car, feeling convicted and sad, knowing that this man, who I would probably never see again, had no hope and I had not shared mine.

I vowed to never let that happen again. I think of him often and realize that if he dies and doesn't hear about the wonderful gift available to him, his blood is on my hands.

I am reviewing exactly what it is I believe and how I plan on communicating this to the next person that crosses my path. Sharing this plan will be the next post I write. It is my desire to makes sure that someone else can benefit from my mistake and be prepared the next time a person with no hope crosses their path.

Life is too short to let opportunities like this pass by unnoticed, unappreciated, and untouched.