Just Walk Across the Room

As I prepared tonight to teach a Wednesday night series at Gainesville First Methodist which begins next week, I couldn't help but think about Maggie's recent experience .  Maggie decided to splurge yesterday afternoon, and treat herself to a manicure.  Shortly after she finished she called me, and lead off with the following: " Mom, you won't believe what happened..."  I swallowed, and listened.
She went on to detail how she had chatted with a stranger sitting next to her while getting her nails done.
She and the stranger talked about her upcoming mission trip to Orphanage Emmanuel.  Maggie is so
reserved, I was elated that she opened up to a stranger.  When Maggie got to the desk to pay she was
surprised to find that the stranger had paid for her manicure.  The lady came back inside to tell Maggie just how proud she was of her courage in traveling to Honduras.  Wow.  What a lesson straight from the Bill Hybel book, "Just Walk Across the Room."

Maggie may not realize what her simple conversation did in extending God's love to a complete stranger.  Hybel encourages to simply walk and talk outside of our comfort zone about the goodness
and kindness of God's love.  I'm not very comfortable quoting scripture, or explaining my faith...
but I sure do know how to love others, especially the weak.  I find pure joy in serving the less fortunate.  I must remember that my walk across the room is not only to the poor, but to those watching me.  My challenge is letting others know that what I'm doing is for God.  After all,
kindness begets kindness.

Isn't it amazing that simply smiling at someone could make a difference of an eternity for someone?